Reposted from the web

Summary: This Muslim knowledge guide explains the Hanafi debate on eating shrimp, views from the four Sunni schools, classical scholar opinions, South Asian and Turkish practice, the broader halal seafood principle, and how Islamic food rulings affect daily Muslim life.

What Is the Hanafi School's View on Eating Shrimp? is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: About a dozen years ago, when I posted photos of myself eating seafood on social media, some people would leave comments asking if the shrimp in the meal was halal. The account keeps its focus on Halal Travel, Yiwu Food, Muslim Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.

About a dozen years ago, when I posted photos of myself eating seafood on social media, some people would leave comments asking if the shrimp in the meal was halal. The people questioning me claimed that the Hanafi school of law forbids eating shrimp and crab. As someone who is self-taught and never attended a formal school, I believe in learning from all sources and taking the best from everyone. I do not blindly follow one specific school of thought, so using the Hanafi label to pressure me does not convince me. However, I was curious about how the Hanafi school explains the issue of shrimp, so I looked up some information and found that the matter is not simple.

In fact, regarding whether shrimp can be eaten, three of the four major schools of Islamic law clearly state that shrimp is permissible. Only some Hanafi scholars classify shrimp as forbidden. Note that I am referring to some Hanafi scholars, not all of them.

The Hanafi school holds that among water animals, only fish are permissible to eat, and all others are not. This view includes animals from the ocean and is a consensus within the Hanafi school with no disagreement.

However, within the Hanafi school, there is a difference of opinion on whether shrimp can be eaten. One group of Hanafi scholars believes that all sea animals are fish, and therefore shrimp are fish. This is also the view of the Shafi'i school. Scholars who hold this view include Hadhrat Maulana Zafar Ahmad Uthmaani.

Scholars who support eating shrimp believe that the definition of 'fish' should not be based on biological classification or dictionary definitions, as these change over time. Instead, it should be based on how ancient Arabs understood 'fish,' and ancient Arabs often grouped shrimp and fish together.

The Hanafi jurist Ibn Abidin said that only seafood that the Arabs considered 'fish' is permitted for consumption. Scholars who hold this view also include Radd al-Muhtar. Other scholars include Ibn al-Humam and Al-Marghinani, authors of Fath al-Qadir 'ala al-Hidayah.

Some Hanafi scholars also take into account the views of the other three schools—Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali—which all permit eating shrimp, and therefore argue that the Hanafi school should be lenient in its ruling.

According to Allama Damiri, shrimp are fish. Based on this, Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanwi issued a ruling that shrimp is halal (Imdaadul Fataawa, Volume 3, Page 50). This is also the ruling of Mawlana ‘Abdul Hay Laknawi, Mufti ‘Abdul Rahim Lajpuri, and others.

On the other hand, Maulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi (may Allah be pleased with him) did not consider shrimp to be fish, so he did not permit eating them. (Fataawa Rashidiyya, Volume 2, Page 122). Mawlana Khalil Ahmed Saharanpuri Rahmatullahi 'Alaihi held the same opinion. (Tazkiratul Khaleel, Page 200).

At the start of this article, I mentioned that over ten years ago, there were occasional online comments questioning seafood like shrimp. These have basically disappeared over the years. I think this has a lot to do with people's improved knowledge and the fact that the information we can access is becoming richer. In South Asia, where the Hanafi school is dominant, eating shrimp has always been very common. However, it is forbidden in Turkey, which is also Hanafi. This shows that it is not true, as some of us claim, that all Hanafi followers cannot eat shrimp.

Actually, deciding whether a food is permissible is not a complicated issue. According to the general principle, only foods explicitly mentioned as forbidden in the scriptures are off-limits; everything else is allowed. For details, see the list of non-halal foods mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah.

It is easy for a scholar to label a food as illegal; they just have to say the word. But this creates unnecessary difficulties for everyone. Just imagine if a scholar who forbids eating shrimp and crab appeared in a Southeast Asian island nation—how would the local fishermen make a living? Collapse Read »

Reposted from the web

Summary: This Muslim travel guide to Mecca explains Saudi e-visa basics, ihram rules, routes from Jeddah and Madinah, hotels near Masjid al-Haram, namaz logistics, pilgrimage routes, Makkah landmarks, Jabal al-Nour, Jeddah Airport food, and practical Umrah notes.

Map of Mecca is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: My article was deleted for no reason, so I am reposting it after some edits. The account keeps its focus on Mosque Travel, Islamic Heritage, Muslim Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.

My article was deleted for no reason, so I am reposting it after some edits.

Friendly reminder: please follow local laws and regulations. Do not do anything against the rules, or you will be responsible for the consequences.

You can apply for a Saudi tourist visa online at this website.

The Saudi tourist e-visa is approved instantly. Once you pay, you get the visa. It costs 488 Saudi Riyals, which is about 930 RMB. It is valid for one year, allows multiple entries, and you can stay for up to 90 days each time.

Before you leave, it is best to prepare a credit card with a chip. You can use it abroad just like mobile payments by tapping it on the merchant's POS machine. Many merchants cannot accept cards that only have a magnetic stripe.

Before heading to Makkah, you need to plan where you will enter the sacred boundary. If you enter Makkah from Jeddah, you must enter the state of ihram before your plane lands in Jeddah, because Jeddah is over 70 kilometers from Makkah and is already past the boundary. If you enter Makkah from Madinah (which also has an airport), you can enter ihram anywhere in Madinah. Madinah is over 400 kilometers from Makkah, so you can enter ihram at your accommodation in Madinah and then take the light rail to Makkah.

Men must wear ihram garments, which are two pieces of white cloth wrapped around the upper and lower body. Do not wear anything underneath. Like a newborn, you wrap your body in the cloth. You can use a belt to keep the garments from slipping. We bought our ihram garments in Madinah. They are sold everywhere on the street, and prices range from 30 to 70 Riyals. If you fly directly from China to Jeddah and then go to Makkah, you need to buy your ihram garments in China. You must change into them at least 30 minutes before the plane lands, or you will have to sacrifice an animal as a penalty for entering the sacred boundary.

We chose to stay at the Hilton, which is a 400-meter walk from the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram). Our room had a view of the mosque. In December, hotel rooms with views near the Sacred Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque (Masjid an-Nabawi) in Madinah cost over 2,000 RMB per night. The Sacred Mosque is unimaginably large. If you walk back and forth between your hotel and the mosque for every namaz, you will walk at least 10 kilometers a day.



Uber does not work well around the Sacred Mosque because the area is a no-parking zone and drivers cannot accept requests. During prayer times, roads leading to the mosque are closed to traffic. This is why I recommend staying as close to the mosque as possible; older people really cannot handle walking 10 kilometers every day.



It is standard for hotel rooms in Arab countries to have a marker showing the direction of the Kaaba. The Hilton in Mecca goes further by installing speakers in the rooms. You can hear the call to prayer (adhan) for every namaz at the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) clearly from inside. No guests complain about the noise here because only Muslims are allowed to enter Mecca.





The hotel uses agarwood (oud). Arab people really love using incense.



There is a tunnel on the basement level of the hotel that leads directly to the Sacred Mosque, passing by a Quran exhibition hosted by the Hilton.











Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram)





You cannot see the Kaaba from the first floor of the Sacred Mosque, but there are lines marked on the floor. You can just follow these lines to face the right direction for namaz.



Praying at the Sacred Mosque is different from other mosques. You are allowed to walk in front of people who are praying because the rows of worshippers form circles. If you do not walk in front of them, you would have no way to get through.





Wearing the pilgrim garment (ihram), I entered through the main gate of the Sacred Mosque and followed the crowd inside. Near the entrance to the Kaaba, guards stand watch. Only men wearing the ihram can walk into the Kaaba area, and women are not allowed to cover their faces.



In other mosques, it is encouraged to perform two rak'ahs of prayer as a greeting (tahiyat al-masjid) as a sunnah. It is different at the Sacred Mosque; the way to greet the mosque upon arrival is to perform the circumambulation (tawaf) of the Kaaba, not to pray.



Starting from the corner of the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad) on the Kaaba, men must uncover their right shoulder and circle the Kaaba seven times. I pushed a stroller with Fahim and completed the seven laps. Some people push to the very front to kiss the Black Stone. This is a sunnah, but nothing more, and there is no extra reward for it. It is also very dangerous when it is crowded, so there is no problem if you do not do it. I saw people inside the circle clinging to the wall of the Kaaba, refusing to leave just to fight for the Black Stone, which is truly unseemly.



Even in December, the daytime temperature in Mecca reaches 30 degrees Celsius. The sun is strong, and walking barefoot to circle the Kaaba takes physical strength. It is a real test for older people, so it is better for young people to go as early as possible.





Men and women can perform the circumambulation together. There were even babies younger than Fahim in the crowd.



Station of Ibrahim (Maqam Ibrahim)

After praying two rak'ahs near the Station of Ibrahim, the ritual of circling the Kaaba is complete.



The area behind the station is spacious, so avoid praying in the middle of the crowd to keep from being stepped on.



Fahim watched cartoons in his stroller while circling the Kaaba, a unique sight that drew envious looks from many fellow believers (dosti).



After leaving the Kaaba, follow the crowd to find the Safa entrance. You must walk between Safa and Marwa seven times to follow the story of Hajar, the wife of Ibrahim, who searched for water for her son Ismail. This is how the Zamzam well was discovered.



The walk between the two hills covers about 700 meters. Saudi Arabia has built a large, air-conditioned hall between them, so pilgrims (hajjis) no longer have to worry about the wind or sun, making it easier to complete this duty.



Mount Safa



Walking from Safa to Marwa counts as one trip, and returning from Marwa to Safa counts as the second. You do this seven times. Volunteers provide wheelchairs for those with mobility issues. Men should jog in the area marked by green lights to follow the Sunnah.





Marwa



After leaving Marwa, use scissors or another tool you brought to cut a portion of your hair to signify the end of your state of ihram. You can also find someone at the entrance to shave your head. The entire process takes about two hours. If you booked through the Nusuk app, you will receive a certificate on the app now, but you can still go even if you did not book.



Hajj Certificate

I felt much lighter after finishing the duties, so we made the intention to go visit the historical sites of Mecca. Mecca has fewer historical sites than Medina. You can see them all in half a day, starting from the dawn prayer (fajr) and finishing by the afternoon prayer (asr).

Mount Thawr (Sha'er Shan)



Mount Thawr (Sha'er Shan)

The mountain in the distance is Mount Thawr, located 4 kilometers from the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram). There is a cave on the mountain that only fits one person. The Prophet Muhammad once took refuge here. It takes an hour and a half to climb up to the cave.

Arafat



Arafat

Arafat is 22 kilometers from the Sacred Mosque. The name means 'to recognize,' as it is where the first humans, Adam and Eve (Hawa), recognized each other. It is also where the Archangel Gabriel (Jibril) taught the Prophet Ibrahim the rituals of Hajj. Arafat covers a large area of plains and hills. Staying at Arafat is one of the essential rituals of the Hajj.



Namirah Mosque

This mosque is located east of the foot of Mount Namirah in Arafat. The Prophet once stayed in a tent on Mount Namirah on the Day of Arafat. This mosque is not considered an ancient site and is usually closed, but you can pray two units of prayer (rak'ahs) at the entrance.



The site of Prophet Ibrahim's sacrifice



Sacrifice pavilion (zaishengting)

Located on a hill near Mina and close to the Jamarat, this site is fenced off and inaccessible. It is the place where the story of Eid al-Adha took place, where the Prophet Ibrahim offered his son to Allah, and Allah replaced him with a sheep.

Mina



Mina tents

Along the way, you can see large areas of tent camps. These are high-end tents equipped with air conditioning and hotel-like facilities. They are only open during Hajj, as the tents are just a symbolic form.

Jamarat



Jamarat

Take the small pebbles you collected on the plains of Arafat and throw them at the Jamarat. Stoning here is also a symbolic act; you can just toss them easily.

Cave of Hira



Cave of Hira

Located northeast of the Masjid al-Haram, it is also called Jabal al-Nour. There is a cave at the top of the mountain. Before the Prophet Muhammad became a prophet, he often climbed up to this cave alone to meditate. It was in this cave that the Prophet received the first revelation from the Archangel. It takes about an hour to walk up the mountain. The summit is crowded and can be dangerous, so you might choose not to go.

Mosque of the Jinn



Mosque of the Jinn

Jinn Mosque (Masjid al-Jinn) is east of the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram), next to the Ma'la Cemetery and beside a pedestrian bridge. This is where a group of jinn pledged their loyalty to the Prophet. It is usually closed except during prayer times. Across from Jinn Mosque is Tree Mosque (Masjid al-Shajarah). The Prophet once called out to a tree here, and it came to him. He asked it a few questions and told it to return to its place. People later built a mosque here. Jinn Mosque and Tree Mosque look exactly the same.





Aisha Mosque (Masjid Aisha).



Located 7.5 kilometers north of the Sacred Mosque, this is the closest boundary of the sacred area. Aisha entered into the state of ihram here during the Farewell Pilgrimage in the 9th year of the Hijri calendar. At that time, the Prophet's wife Aisha could not perform the circumambulation of the Kaaba due to her period. She completed all other pilgrimage rites. After her period ended, the Prophet asked her brother to accompany her to this place to enter ihram, and she later circumambulated the Kaaba.



Many pilgrims (hajjis) specifically choose to enter ihram here. The mosque can hold 150,000 people for namaz.







This covers the main historical sites in Mecca. Like in Medina, many places mentioned in books look completely different today. The main task for people coming to Mecca is to pray in the Sacred Mosque. One prayer there is worth 100,000 prayers elsewhere, so these renovated historical sites do not attract much interest.

Hilton breakfast restaurant.



We mostly ate our three meals at the hotel. The hotel restaurant has good food and a comfortable environment. It does not distinguish between family rooms, the price does not change with the room rate, and it offers great value.











This Hilton sandwich costs only about 30 yuan. We ate it almost every day. We got to know the server, and he even brought us juice. Once you arrive in the sacred land, you realize that besides going to the mosque for namaz, you do not want to go anywhere else to wander around.

Hilton Lebanese restaurant.



We ate at the Hilton's Lebanese restaurant. During our 18 days in the Middle East, we mostly ate Arabic food. We adapted well to this diet, and Lebanese food is the best among Arabic cuisines.

















I only ate out twice. One time was for this camel pilaf (zhuafan). I had it in Medina and thought it was delicious, so my friend (dosti) insisted on having it again. Most restaurants in Mecca are in the city center, more than 10 kilometers away from the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram). The city center is where the locals live and where many wealthy Saudis gather.



Dining in a family room is a unique experience. You can sit anywhere in these restaurants, and no one checks if you are actually a family.



Eating kunafa dessert in this type of restaurant tastes better than anywhere else.



This portion of camel pilaf is only one-quarter of the full size, yet it was enough for 8 people and we still couldn't finish it.





The national dish of Saudi Arabia is mandi pilaf. We asked a local friend to recommend this place; it is spacious and you do not need a reservation.





Our friend specifically insisted we try their kunafa dessert, saying you cannot find it anywhere else. After tasting it, we all agreed it was delicious.



You can find kunafa in Syrian restaurants in Beijing, but those versions are modified. In reality, there are many different flavors.



Mandi pilaf comes in a huge platter filled with rich ingredients, and the lamb is cooked until it is soft and tender.



A signature Arab salad is called tabbouleh salad (tabouli), made with chopped parsley, mint, tomatoes, and bulgur wheat.



For the Arab-style grilled lamb, the meat here does not have a strong gamey smell. It is usually served with charred tomatoes and french fries. The tomatoes are intentionally charred to bring out their unique aroma.



One night at the Sacred Mosque, after we finished our night prayer (Isha), we planned to walk around the outside of the mosque. When we reached the new section, staff directed us into a line, which turned out to be a queue to receive a Quran.



This is an original Arabic version, and the stamp inside reads 'Property of Allah.' This is the third Quran I have received; the Hilton hotel is also giving them away to guests for free.



Property of Allah.



The view of the Kaaba from the second floor of the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram). After dark, the number of pilgrims (haji) circling the Kaaba surges. In Mecca and Medina, haji is the common term used between strangers.



People of various sects pray in the Sacred Mosque. An Iranian Shia believer once stood next to me; he did not fold his arms during prayer but kept them hanging at his sides. I also saw Uzbeks making dua with their hands pressed together like Buddhists. I greeted all of them.



The television programs are no different from those in our country; you can see the same shows in Mecca that you see abroad. People smoking are everywhere on the streets. Even in Mecca, smoking is not banned, and Arabs actually have quite a strong nicotine habit.



Jeddah Floating Mosque.

On your way back to Beijing from Jeddah, you can stop by the Jeddah Floating Mosque. It is a mosque built on the Red Sea with a very beautiful exterior.









This coastline gets very lively at night. During the day, the weather is hot and businesses are closed.





I ate at a very famous local fast-food place in a Jeddah shopping mall. It is like the Saudi version of KFC, but I felt it did not taste as good as Burger King.



I saw Cantonese food in the mall. I thought it was Cantonese cuisine, but it was actually just rice and stir-fried dishes. I usually do not eat Chinese food when I go abroad. I feel that since I traveled so far, I should eat things I cannot get back home. Besides, Chinese food abroad is not authentic, and if it tastes bad, I feel like I wasted my money.



Restaurants in Saudi Arabia do not display halal signs because everything is halal. It is not easy to find non-halal food. This is why some Arabs, when they first come to China, walk into any restaurant to eat. In the environment where they grew up, there are no non-halal restaurants, so they have no awareness of needing to specifically look for a halal shop.





A MADO shop in the mall. MADO is a famous Turkish ice cream and dessert shop that is very popular in Saudi Arabia. In China, there is only one store in Guangzhou.





Fast food at Jeddah Airport.



The Hijaz fast-food restaurant in the post-security commercial area of Jeddah Airport is excellent. I had a chive and egg pie (jiucai jidan xianbing) and it wasn't enough, so I ordered another cheese and egg with flatbread (kaobing).



The flatbread is baked fresh. It is very soft, like naan, but even softer. It smells great, and I highly recommend it to anyone transferring at Jeddah Airport.



Jeddah is only 70 kilometers from Mecca. In Jeddah, you can see girls without headscarves everywhere, and even girls with bare legs, though I felt it was inappropriate to take photos.



The prayer room at Jeddah Airport has no full-time imam. Travelers organize themselves and choose someone to lead the namaz. In Saudi Arabia, prayer rooms are standard, just like public restrooms, and they are everywhere.



The multimedia system on Saudi Arabian Airlines has many religious programs.



There are dedicated prayer areas in the back and middle of the cabin. In terms of supporting services, they are ahead of other Arab countries.

This trip to Mecca is coming to an end. Rationally speaking, completing the pilgrimage is an obligation, but emotionally, the experience was not pleasant. The commercial atmosphere in the holy city is too strong, and it lacks a sense of holiness. Following the principle of not spreading bad news, I will not go into detail about some of what I saw and heard. But Allah sees what people do. All of this was described in the prophecies of the Prophet. Everyone will receive their due reward in the afterlife, so let us wait and see. Collapse Read »

Reposted from the web

Summary: This Muslim travel guide explains how the author applied for a Canadian tourist visa without an agency, including GCKey, the IRCC portal, U.S. visa simplified processing, fingerprints, passport submission, visa center details, costs, timelines, and Canada halal trip planning.

A Step-by-step Guide to Applying for a Canadian Visa on Your Own is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: I always handle my own visa applications when traveling abroad and never use an agency. The account keeps its focus on Muslim Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.

I always handle my own visa applications when traveling abroad and never use an agency. The most complicated visa I had done before was the U.S. visa, but applying for a Canadian visa this time felt even more complex. Even though I used the simplified channel for U.S. visa holders, there were still many details I could not find information for online. I am writing this guide to the application process to help others who might be just as confused.

There are two channels for Canadian tourist visa applications:

One is GCKey.

The website is https://clegc-gckey.gc.ca. This channel requires a VPN and cannot be accessed from mainland China. It also requires filling out a lot of information and answering many questions. Its advantage is that it allows uploading larger files, but after trying it, I found it too complicated and switched to the other one.

The IRCC portal.

The website is https://portal-portail.apps.ci... %3Den

This application channel can be opened directly in mainland China. It is a new, simplified application channel developed by the Canadian immigration authorities, and the process requires much less work. The downside is that uploaded files are limited to 2MB, but there are ways to overcome this, so I recommend using this for your application.

Because I have a 10-year valid U.S. visa, I could use the simplified Canadian visa process. This meant I only needed to submit my passport and a photo of my U.S. visa. Other documents like proof of finances, employment verification, travel itineraries, and photos were not required.

My U.S. visa is in my old passport. When submitting my documents, I needed to provide photos of the information pages from both my new and old passports, specifically the pages showing my U.S. visa and entry/exit records. I did not provide any other visa pages.

Even with the simplified process, it took nearly a month from the time I submitted my application on March 6 to receiving my passport with the visa on April 5. Canadian visa processing times are a mystery; I have seen some people online who still had not received theirs after more than half a year.

The process for getting a Canadian tourist visa mainly consists of three steps:

1. Fill out the application form online;

2. Go to the Canada Visa Application Centre to provide your fingerprints.

3. Get the visa sticker in your passport.

After you finish the application form, you will usually get a confirmation email that same day or the next. Then, pay the 185 Canadian dollar fee, which includes the fingerprinting cost. This is about 984 Chinese yuan and covers the entire cost of my visa. After paying, you can book your fingerprinting appointment online. Fingerprints are valid for 10 years. You do not need to provide them again if you apply for a Canadian visa within that 10-year period.

To provide fingerprints, you must log in to the VFS official website at https://www.vfsglobal.cn/.

This is a company officially authorized to handle visas for many countries. Note that the online booking link often fails to open or you might not receive the verification code. The easiest way is to call during business hours to book, or just refresh the page a few times. You can usually book a fingerprinting slot for a week later.



Canada Visa Application Centre in Beijing

The Canada Visa Application Centre in Beijing is located in basement level B1 of Tower C at Guanghua Road SOHO. You can enter through the west entrance or take the elevator down from Tower C.

You need to bring these paper documents for fingerprinting:

1. Original passport and a photocopy.

2. Canada Visa Application Centre consent form and terms of use.

3. Canada visa application center appointment letter;

4. Consent Form;

5. Biometric Instruction Letter.



The B1 basement level has windows for processing visas for various countries, and the Canada entrance is the most crowded.



If you do not have time to print your documents, you can print them at the entrance of the visa center, but it is very expensive. Printing one sheet of paper costs 5 yuan, and photocopying costs 1 yuan.

Line up at the entrance according to your appointment time, take a number, and go to the window to submit your materials, take photos, and provide fingerprints. The whole process takes about 30 minutes, and then you can go home and wait for the review results. If you find any errors in your personal information during this time, you can search for "webform" on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website. You can use the webform to correct personal information. If you find errors in your name, passport, or other details, you can fix them in the webform. You can also use the webform to submit additional documents, or even file an appeal after a visa refusal.



I finished my fingerprinting on March 13th, and on March 29th, I received an email saying my application was approved and I could submit my passport for the visa stamp.

You do not need an appointment to submit your passport; you can go directly to the visa center, but you must bring:

1. Original passport;

2. Photocopy of the passport information page;

3. Fingerprint collection receipt;

If you choose to mail it instead of submitting it in person, you need to pay the postage according to the instructions in the image below.



I live nearby and have a flexible schedule, so I chose to submit it myself to save the 96 yuan courier fee. I did not need to pay for SMS notifications because I received progress updates via email.



I had to take a number and wait to submit my passport. It took over an hour before it was my turn.



When submitting your own visa, check the visa center's holiday schedule. Canada's working hours do not always match our public holidays. For example, today is the Qingming Festival holiday, but they were open, which is how I got my passport today.



It takes about 3 to 4 days from submission to pickup. Once you receive the email shown below, you can head to the visa center to collect your passport.



To collect your passport, you need to bring:

1. Original ID card.

2. A copy of your passport (stamped by the visa center).

3. A printed copy of the PDF confirmation and receipt from your email.



I clearly remember picking up my passport at window number 1. I received the envelope shown in the picture, opened it to find my passport, and checked the visa information for errors in front of the staff.



The validity of a Canadian tourist visa matches the validity of your passport. The visa expires whenever your passport expires. My passport is new, so I received a 10-year visa.

Next, I need to plan my trip to Canada in June. If you know Canada well, please leave a comment with any halal-related information you have. Collapse Read »

Reposted from the web

Summary: This Muslim life guide from Beijing reflects on spending a fifth Ramadan at Mingya, shorter fasting days, Niujie Mosque iftar and Taraweeh, ethnic minority partners at work, MDRT goals, and balancing worship with professional life.

The Fifth Ramadan I Have Spent in Mingya is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: This year marks my fifth Ramadan at Mingya. It also happens to be the company's 19th anniversary, which we celebrated with a two-day event at the Beijing Hotel. The account keeps its focus on Mosque Travel, Islamic Heritage, Beijing while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.

This year marks my fifth Ramadan at Mingya. It also happens to be the company's 19th anniversary, which we celebrated with a two-day event at the Beijing Hotel.



These past five Ramadans have been the easiest for me to observe. The weather plays a part, as Ramadan in Beijing is shifting toward winter, making the daylight fasting hours shorter each year. My work situation also helps; I haven't worked a standard office schedule for five years. I can manage my own time and pace during Ramadan, and Mingya has never interfered with my worship. This is one of the main reasons I chose to work here.



In recent years, open flames have been banned in historic buildings within the Second Ring Road, so the Niujie Mosque no longer serves full iftar meals, offering only light refreshments instead. Occasionally, we get iftar meal sets donated by nearby restaurants, but fewer people come to the mosque to break their fast now.



However, plenty of people still come for Taraweeh prayers. If I don't have any dinner plans, I usually break my fast and pray at the Niujie Mosque. I try to keep things simple and avoid overeating during Ramadan, though I still keep working.



Ramadan is also the best time for me to look back and review my work achievements from the past year.



Mingya's annual report this year was impressive as always. New policy premiums topped 10 billion, and total premiums exceeded 20 billion. We have maintained positive growth for 19 consecutive years, putting us far ahead of any other insurance brokerage in the country; you could say we have no rivals.



Mingya has a group of young, talented elites whose achievements set the gold standard for the insurance brokerage industry.



MDRT stands for Million Dollar Round Table, and I am honored to be one of the people behind these numbers.



This June, I will travel to Canada for the MDRT annual meeting to meet the best insurance professionals from around the world.



When our boss spoke about how Mingya has maintained growth since its founding in 2004, regardless of whether the market was booming or struggling, he said the company has the protection of "Allah." He said this because he is a devout Christian, and I have realized that Mingya's corporate culture is deeply tied to his personal character.



In this year's annual report, I noticed a new statistic on the percentage of ethnic minority partners. I think the company must have realized that more and more minority partners are joining us. Mingya has over 28,000 employees nationwide, and a 4.3% share means about 1,200 people, a ratio I believe is higher than most well-known domestic companies. Also, 77.7% of our staff are women, which proves we are a female-friendly company.



I also finished a big project this Ramadan. At the invitation of the Posts and Telecom Press, I wrote a book on insurance and financial planning. The manuscript is finished and going through the publishing process, and I expect it to be on the market in the second half of this year.



Writing a book was one of the goals I set last year to finish this year. I want to write a book about the insurance profession as a gift for my team members to help them quickly get started as professional consultants. Collapse Read »

Reposted from the web

Summary: This Malaysia mosque travel guide visits eight Kuala Lumpur-area mosques, including the Federal Territory Mosque, Tabung Haji Mosque, Selangor Royal Mosque, Blue Mosque, Pink Mosque, KLCC Mosque, Jamek Mosque, and National Mosque.

8 Beautiful Mosques in Kuala Lumpur is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: Kuala Lumpur has many beautiful mosques that are great spots for tourists to take photos. The account keeps its focus on Halal Travel, Yiwu Food, Mosque Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.

Kuala Lumpur has many beautiful mosques that are great spots for tourists to take photos. These mosques are open to the public, and you can visit for free as long as you are dressed modestly. Some popular mosques even provide robes, headscarves, and guided tours. I did not think much of this when I first visited Kuala Lumpur, but after visiting mosques in Egypt where I was frequently charged entry fees, asked for tips, and even found mosques closed, I realized how lovely Malaysia is by comparison.

1. Federal Territory Mosque

(Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan)



Built next to the federal government buildings and completed in 2000, this was the 44th mosque funded by the government. It uses Ottoman-style architecture and can hold 17,000 people for namaz.





























2. Pilgrimage Fund Board Mosque (Tabung Haji Surau TH)



I discovered this mosque by chance next to the Pilgrimage Fund Board building. It is actually a prayer room, but it looks very delicate from the outside and even has a minaret, making it look like a miniature model of the Tabung Haji building next door, which was built in 1984.



Inside the entrance, there are two floors. The air conditioning is very strong, and some people were taking a nap in the main prayer hall.







3. Selangor Royal Mosque

(Masjid Tengku Ampuan Jemaah)



This is the second state mosque of Selangor. It was built in 2013 and named after the late Queen, Almarhumah Tengku Ampuan Jemaah, who was the second Queen of Malaysia.





























4. Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque

(Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah)



This is the Selangor State Mosque, the largest mosque in Malaysia. It was built in 1988 and is commonly known as the Blue Mosque.



The mosque's minaret stands 142.3 meters tall. It once held a Guinness World Record before being surpassed by the 210-meter minaret of the Hassan II Mosque in Morocco.



































5. Putra Mosque

(Masjid Putra)



Putra Mosque is commonly known as the Pink Mosque because its dome is made of rose-colored granite. Built in 1997, it can hold 15,000 people for namaz, which is about the same capacity as the National Mosque.







































6. Asy-Syakirin Mosque

(Masjid Asy-Syakirin KLCC)



Asy-Syakirin Mosque is also called the KLCC Mosque. It is the closest mosque to the Petronas Twin Towers and the one nearest to our home in Kuala Lumpur. It is only a 200-meter walk from Musa Lanzhou Beef Noodles, and I usually go there for namaz.

This mosque was built in 2009 and can hold 12,000 people for namaz. Asy-Syakirin means "the grateful people."





The mosque has an open plaza without walls. People often rest or sleep there, and no one bothers them.



7. Jamek Mosque

(Jamek Mosque)



Built in 1909, this was the first large mosque in Kuala Lumpur's history. It was designed by a British man named Arthur Benison. Part of the funding came from the British government, and the rest was donated by the Malay community. The building mixes Moorish and Indian Mughal styles. Before the National Mosque was built, this was the most important mosque in Kuala Lumpur. The word Jamek means a place for congregational prayer in Malay, and it sounds similar to the Arabic word.













8. National Mosque

(Masjid Negara)



The National Mosque was built in 1965 on the former site of the Brethren Gospel Hall, which the government bought in 1961. That church is now called the Imbi Chapel. The mosque was originally going to be named after Malaysia's first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, but he declined. It was named the National Mosque instead to celebrate Malaysia gaining independence from Britain without bloodshed.



From a distance, the main building of the National Mosque looks like an open umbrella. It was designed by a team of three: British architect Howard Ashley, and Malaysians Ikmal Hisham Albakri and Baharuddin Kassim.



Next to the National Mosque is the Heroes' Mausoleum (Makam Pahlawan), which is the burial site for several Malaysian Muslim leaders.











That covers the eight mosques in Kuala Lumpur. I have saved many other beautiful mosques on Google Maps, but it takes a lot of time to visit them all because they are far apart. Since I will be traveling to Kuala Lumpur often, I am not in a rush to see every single one. If you have the chance, you can rent a car. You can drive in Malaysia using a translated copy of your Chinese driver's license and go on a tour of Kuala Lumpur's mosques. Collapse Read »

Reposted from the web

Summary: This Kuala Lumpur halal food guide introduces local Muslim dining, Musa Lanzhou Beef Noodles, Arabic barbecue, mamak food, MOZA, Nyonya flavors, street dining, Japanese, Korean, Thai options, and Cantonese-style dim sum.

A Guide to Halal Food in Kuala Lumpur is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: This is my third time visiting Malaysia. I spent a long time in Kuala Lumpur, totaling 15 days, plus three days on Redang Island and one day in Malacca. The account keeps its focus on Halal Travel, Yiwu Food, Muslim Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.

This is my third time visiting Malaysia. I spent a long time in Kuala Lumpur, totaling 15 days, plus three days on Redang Island and one day in Malacca. I ate at 16 restaurants in Kuala Lumpur and tried 16 different flavors. The food in Kuala Lumpur is so rich, delicious, and affordable that my love for Malaysia has grown even more.

The list of Kuala Lumpur restaurants featured in this post is as follows:

1. Musa Lanzhou Beef Noodles (Musa Lanzhou niurou lamian)

2. HABIBI SURIA Arabic BBQ

3. SELERA AMPANG Indian Mamak stall

4. Islamic Arts Museum MOZA Restaurant

5. KENNY HILLS BISTRO Four Seasons Hotel Afternoon Tea

6. RasaNya Nyonya Restaurant

7. Tapak Urban Street Dining night market

8. DOZO Japanese Cuisine

9. Hong Kong Xuan Chuan Cantonese Restaurant

10. KUNG JUNG Korean BBQ

11. Absolute Thai restaurant

12. PEONY CANTON BOY Cantonese dim sum

13. DOLLY DIM SUM Cantonese dim sum

14. Taco Bell Mexican fast food

15. Din Tai Fung Taiwanese food

16. MAKAN Malaysian buffet

1. Musa Lanzhou Ramen



Musa Lanzhou Ramen is located on the ground floor of Wisma Central, right along the street. It is the first ramen shop my mother-in-law opened in Kuala Lumpur. The shop is right next to the Petronas Twin Towers (KLCC), so it is very easy to find. The restaurant is smoke-free and alcohol-free, and it is clean and hygienic.



I know many friends struggle with Southeast Asian food, so you can choose to come here for a bowl of ramen.



Besides ramen, they also serve mixed noodles, big plate chicken (dapanji), dumplings, and kebabs. The restaurant has been open for over a year and is doing great business, with most customers being Malay.



I have hosted many friends from Kuala Lumpur at the shop, and the most popular dishes are the ramen and the kebabs.



A fresh pot of big plate chicken (dapanji) with wide belt noodles (pidaimian) is also very satisfying, though Malay people prefer mixed noodles (banmian).



2. Habibi Suria



Next door to Musalan Beef Ramen is an Arab-owned grilled meat and pizza shop. Their signature grilled meat wrap (shawarma) isn't as good as their pizza, so when I've had too much ramen, I occasionally go there to order a pizza.





Their pizza is definitely much better than their shawarma. It is always freshly baked and very cheap.



3. SELERA AMPANG Indian Stall



This shop is on the ground floor at the front of the Wisma Central building, while the ramen shop is on the side. This is an Indian fast-food spot. We all like their flatbread wraps (roti). A wrap with a side of grilled chicken makes a great lunch for many office workers, and with a drink, it costs around 20 ringgit.



4. Islamic Arts Museum MOZA Restaurant



There is an Islamic Arts Museum next to the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur. This is my second time visiting. My friend from Beijing had an event there, so we met up. After touring the museum, he recommended the MOZA restaurant inside.



The design of MOZA restaurant incorporates many Islamic historical elements. It is full of style and is the biggest highlight of the restaurant.



My friend told me that this museum is actually private and houses many precious Islamic artifacts.



The restaurant serves mostly Southeast Asian fusion food along with some Arab-style dishes. The prices are quite affordable, with an average cost of no more than 50 Malaysian ringgit, which is less than 80 Chinese yuan. If you visit the Islamic Arts Museum, remember to eat at the restaurant. The museum entrance fee is only 20 ringgit.









5. KENNY HILLS BISTRO Four Seasons Hotel breakfast and afternoon tea



My wife and sister-in-law brought me to this local trendy restaurant on the ground floor of the Four Seasons Hotel. It has a Western style and is famous for its afternoon tea desserts. This shop is near our home in Kuala Lumpur, just a 5-minute walk from KLCC, and they have other chain locations too.



You can see many beautiful Malay ladies taking photos here. The desserts and coffee taste good, and they serve breakfast starting at 8:00 AM.







6. RasaNya Nyonya restaurant



This Nyonya restaurant is on the 8th floor of the Pavilion shopping center. Nyonya people are the descendants of mixed Malay and Chinese heritage, and they have a unique food culture. If you travel to Malaysia, you must try halal Nyonya food, as most Nyonya dishes are not halal. I once ate at one in Malacca, but this Kuala Lumpur location is more upscale and worth a try.



The restaurant's decor caught my eye; it has the elegant vibe of a Nanyang noblewoman.













The menu says Muslim Friendly, which means it is a pork-free restaurant. Some restaurants write Pork Free, which also means no pork. In Malaysia, as long as a restaurant has no pork, you can eat there because other meats like chicken, beef, and lamb are halal.



You might wonder why they don't just display a halal certification label. Applying for a Malaysian halal label involves a complicated process and high certification fees. Once certified, restaurants face regular and surprise inspections. Inspectors check that every ingredient has a halal certificate. Even additives without non-halal ingredients are not allowed if they lack certification. Businesses face penalties for non-compliance. That is why you will notice that most restaurants with official halal labels are large chains. Many small and medium-sized restaurants do not display the label and instead hang a dua in the shop. This does not stop Malay people from eating there. You can feel safe eating there if you see Malay people wearing headscarves dining in the shop.



This Nyonya restaurant serves Nanyang-style hot pot with very fresh ingredients, and the dipping sauce bowls come in different colors.







We chose a split pot with tomato broth and black truffle broth. I was surprised when we asked for a refill; the server brought two different pitchers to add broth separately instead of just adding water. It was very thoughtful.



Wagyu beef is expensive in Malaysia, and this was the most expensive meal I had in Kuala Lumpur, costing about 250 yuan per person.













The restaurant adds a 10% service charge. If you skip the hot pot and just order Nyonya cuisine (niangre cai), you won't actually spend that much. The rice and seasonings in the Nyonya cuisine are quite delicious.

7. Tapak Urban Street Dining night market



We stayed near KLCC, so our activities were mostly within a one-kilometer radius. You will notice that the restaurants I recommend are all near KLCC, including this night market. You can see the lit-up Petronas Twin Towers not far from the market.



This night market opens at 18:00. It is entirely halal and stays open until the early morning every day. There is even a live band performing, mostly singing Chinese pop songs.











I tried many snacks at this night market myself, and they were all delicious with no bad surprises. Just be sure to bring some small change, as some stalls do not accept Alipay.





What attracted me most was the fruit juice at the night market. I accidentally bought a cup of apple juice at this stall and it was incredibly good. Since then, I have wandered over here every few days to buy juice. In Malaysia, I love drinking juice the most because it is all freshly squeezed from real fruit with no artificial additives.

One day, while I was holding a cup of juice downstairs at KLCC, a Chinese girl stopped me to ask where I bought the drink.



I bought the fried rice shown in the picture below. Paired with the apple juice I bought earlier, this meal only cost 10 yuan.



8. DOZO Japanese Restaurant



Don't miss the halal Japanese food that is common in Malaysia but rare back home. Since Malaysia was once a Japanese colony, it was influenced by Japanese culture, and the Japanese food here is very close to the quality you find in Japan. The name of this shop means 'please come in' in Japanese. It has high ratings and reasonable prices.



You can eat a full range of famous Japanese dishes here, including grilled meat, sushi, sashimi, udon noodles, tempura, and more.







I have to praise the texture of this salmon sashimi; it is excellent. One bite and you know it is not rainbow trout.





I really love the drinks in Malaysia. This peach juice was buy-one-get-one-free, so both cups are mine.





9. Hong Kong Xuan Chuan Cantonese Restaurant



This Hong Kong Xuan restaurant is right across the street from where we are staying. I pass by every day and see it packed with people, mostly Malay locals.



This shop serves dim sum (zaocha) after 11:00 a.m. I do not know why it starts so late; maybe people in Kuala Lumpur are not used to waking up early. Where I live, the earliest you can get breakfast is after 8:00 a.m.



I must say the dim sum at Hong Kong Xuan tastes very authentic. Even the restaurant atmosphere feels like a Hong Kong tea house, and the staff look like traditional Cantonese people. Each dim sum dish only costs a few ringgit. The three of us spent about 100 ringgit for this meal. I have tried three dim sum places in Kuala Lumpur, and every one of them is better than the Hui Muslim restaurant in Guangzhou.















10. KUNG JUNG Korean BBQ



There is a Korean barbecue restaurant upstairs from Hong Kong Xuan that is incredibly busy. You need to book in advance, or you will have to wait in line. We are lucky to stay in this area. We just walk downstairs for 5 to 10 minutes to find all kinds of delicious restaurants.



The contact information and address are on the business card.



Malay people really like eating Korean barbecue. It seems like they are not very picky about what they eat.





The barbecue at this shop tastes great, but I didn't really like the cold noodles. Compared to barbecue back home, I still prefer eating in Beijing, where you get better value for your money. The average cost per person at this shop is over 150 yuan. If the price were a bit lower, I would feel it was a great deal.











11. Absolute Thai restaurant



I want to make up for the halal Thai food I can't get in Beijing while I'm in Kuala Lumpur. Thai food in Kuala Lumpur is basically all halal.



This refined Thai restaurant inside the TRX mall suits my taste perfectly. The pineapple fried rice and the seasoning of the desserts were also amazing.











12. PEONY CANTON BOY



One of my biggest joys in Kuala Lumpur is trying out different styles of morning tea (yum cha). I love eating a rich meal in the morning, which is something I can't enjoy in Beijing. This newly opened Canton Boy is an authentic Cantonese restaurant. Besides morning tea, they also serve main courses. We ate here twice, and I have to say the morning tea satisfied me more.



The shop is at the entrance on the first floor of the AK mall. The huge floor-to-ceiling windows and fresh decor are a delight to the eyes. Some staff are Chinese and can speak Chinese, and every server in the restaurant wears a headscarf, which means this is a halal restaurant.



Morning tea starts at 9:00, but that's a bit too late for me. I've already been up for 3 hours by then and am starving, but you don't see many people on the streets here at 9 o'clock.

















Besides morning tea, I also hosted my brother-in-law's family here. They are second-generation Pakistani immigrants from the UK. They didn't seem used to this Cantonese food; they preferred the mixed noodles at Musa Lanzhou Ramen.













13. DOLLY DIM SUM



There are so many choices for morning tea in Kuala Lumpur that you could eat something different every day. Nearly half the people here are Chinese, mostly with roots in Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian, so you can trust the quality of their morning tea. Dolly Dim Sum (Duo Li) is a chain restaurant. This location is on the fourth floor of KLCC, and you will need to wait in line during peak hours.



















Collapse Read »

Reposted from the web

Summary: This China mosque travel guide continues the Tai'an seventy mosques project, covering Xintai and Feicheng mosques, village mosque architecture, stone tablets, imam records, Hui Muslim communities, and anti-Japanese resistance history.

The Seventy Mosques of Tai'an is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: Xigaoping Mosque in Guli Town sits in the northwest part of the old Xigaoping village. The account keeps its focus on Mosque Travel, Islamic Heritage, Muslim Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.



Xigaoping Mosque



Xigaoping Mosque in Guli Town sits in the northwest part of the old Xigaoping village. It was first built in the early Qing Dynasty and has been expanded and repaired many times since. When the mosque was first established, it had a main prayer hall with five rooms and two lecture halls to the north and south with three rooms each. An ancient cypress tree once stood inside the mosque, but it was cut down during the Cultural Revolution. The mosque was re-established in 1981. It underwent large-scale renovations in 1995 and 2005.

The mosque features a typical traditional Chinese courtyard style with a single-entry layout. It is 45 meters long and 35 meters wide. The prayer hall is 15 meters long and 6.5 meters wide. The rear hall is 4 meters long and 3.5 meters wide. The north lecture hall is 16 meters long and 8 meters wide. The south lecture hall is 18 meters long and 4.5 meters wide. Two stone tablets remain today: the 2005 Renovation Record and the List of Donors for the Mosque Construction on March 16, 1994, which was also set up in 2005.

Before the founding of the People's Republic of China, Imam Bai Anfu led the religious affairs at this mosque. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Imams Yang Yuejun, Bai Anfu, Liu Qingyuan, Wang Xiuming, and Yu Guangwei served as leaders of religious affairs in succession. The mosque is currently managed by a mosque management committee, with Liu Guitian serving as the current director.

In 2008, the mosque was named a Model Mosque by Tai'an City. In 2009, it was awarded the title of Civilized Religious Activity Venue by Xintai City. In 2010, it was once again named a Model Mosque by Tai'an City.







Feicheng City

Houhuang Village Mosque



Houhuang Village Mosque in Bianyuan Town sits in the southwest corner of the village. It was built during the Ming Dynasty and has been repaired continuously since then. The mosque underwent seven large-scale renovations in 1747 (the 12th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty), 1809 (the 14th year of the Jiaqing reign), 1903 (the 30th year of the Guangxu reign), 1937 (the 26th year of the Republic of China), 1944 (the 33rd year of the Republic of China), 1984, and 2010.

The mosque features a Chinese palace-style architectural design and measures 45 meters long and 28 meters wide. The prayer hall has two sections, front and back, standing 9 meters high with two side rooms and a moon platform (yuetai) in front. The main hall is 17.2 meters long and 12.45 meters wide. The north lecture hall is 10 meters long and 8 meters wide. The south lecture hall is 15.2 meters long and 5.7 meters wide. The ablution room (shuiwu) is divided into separate areas for men and women. The men's room is 15 meters long and 6.2 meters wide. The women's room is 8.8 meters long and 5.8 meters wide. There are four stone tablets here: the 1747 Record of Rebuilding the Mosque Moon Platform Railing Rooms from the Qianlong era, the 1809 Record of Rebuilding the North and South Lecture Halls from the Jiaqing era, the 1910 Record of Rebuilding the Huangjiazhuang Mosque from the Xuantong era, and the 2011 Record of Rebuilding the Main Prayer Hall.

The mosque's religious affairs have been led by imams including Zhang, Zhang Baotai, Ma Yonghui, Tang Qinglin, Wang Changshun, Ma Tongyun, Yang Fulian, Xu Changcun, Yang Baojun, Zhang Shugang, and Ma Gang. The mosque has trained many religious scholars, including imams Zhang Xuan, Xu Shihe, Xu Jiben, Xu Jiwen, Xu Changchun, Xu Changzhi, Xu Jiwu, Xu Changshan, Zhang Baotai, Ma Wenli, Yang Guotai, Yang Maodou, Xu Changzeng, Yang Suo, Xu Bin, Ding Jian, Bai Yanbing, Ding Junjian, Ding Rongfu, Ding Jianhua, Yang Libiao, Xu Yongqiang, and Yang Chaoxuan. It is currently managed by the mosque's democratic management committee, with Ding Junqian, Xu Weihua, Ding Junfu, Ding Ruqing, and Yang Wei serving as directors. Religious activities are carried out according to the law. The mosque keeps a white porcelain incense burner from the Qing Dynasty. The mosque values education, and every imam has held classes to train many students (hailifan).

In 2008, the mosque was named a Model Mosque by Tai'an City. It was named a Model Mosque by Tai'an City again in 2014.









Qianhuang Village Mosque



Qianhuang Village Mosque in Bianyuan Town sits at the west end of the village. It was first built during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1875-1906) and has been repaired many times since. In the third year of the Xuantong reign (1911), elder Zhang Shi'en donated over 3.6 mu of land, which became the current site. In 1924, four rooms were built for the south lecture hall. In 1946, elder Wang Yuduo from the Taihe firm in Qianhuang Village led a fundraising effort, and the five-room main prayer hall was finished in 1947. Large-scale repairs took place in 1991, 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2014.

The mosque is a single-courtyard building in the classic Chinese palace style. The main prayer hall has front and back sections and covers 250 square meters. The north lecture hall covers 107 square meters, the south lecture hall covers 98 square meters, and the water room covers 88 square meters. There are four stone tablets here: the Huangjiazhuang Ding Family Genealogy Tablet from 1741 (Qianlong year 6), the New Ablution Room Tablet from 2000, the Mosque Inscription from 2003, and the South Lecture Hall Reconstruction Tablet from 2004.

The mosque's religious affairs have been led by imams including Yang Guotai, Yang Chaoxuan, Mi Shuting, Ma Yongcai, Zhao Rongsheng, Zhan Qinggui, Dong Zhongqing, Mi Shuangzhong, Mi Shuangliang, Li Huaiguo, Wang Xiuming, Chen Xingwu, Wang Huaiyu, Jin Haixue, Wang Jingdou, Wang Xiuming, and Ma Jundong. Before the founding of the People's Republic of China, the mosque was managed by village elders including Ding Yuxi, Wang Wensheng, Wang Guanxi, Wang Guanxing, Wang Jixian, Bai Yuhe, Zhang Juntang, Wang Jichen, Ding Yang, Wang Guanqi, Zhang Baoshan, Zhang Baodang, and Wang Jixin. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, it was managed by village elders including Ding Yanzheng, Ding Yanyang, Wang Guanjiang, Ding Huaixin, Zhang Yongquan, Wang Xiuzhong, Ma Hongzhang, Wang Xiucai, Bai Tangyou, Zhang Yanlong, Wang Xiutong, Wang Jingshui, Ding Huaikui, Wang Jingtao, Wang Jingliang, Ma Xianmin, and Wang Zhongmin. It is now managed by the mosque's democratic management committee, with Ding Yanzheng, Ma Hongzhang, Wang Jingshui, and Ding Huaikui serving as directors.

The mosque once held cultural relics like celadon incense burners and vases, along with thirty handwritten copies of the Quran, but these were destroyed or lost during the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution.

In 2008, the mosque was named a Model Mosque by Tai'an City. In 2010, it was named a provincial-level Harmonious Religious Activity Site. In 2011, it was designated as a Feicheng City Cultural Relic Protection Unit.









Shengjiazhuang Mosque.



Shengjiazhuang Mosque in Anjiazhuang Town is located in the northwest corner of the village. It was first built in the early Qing Dynasty and has been renovated many times since. The mosque is built in the style of a Chinese palace, measuring 34 meters long and 30 meters wide. The prayer hall consists of a front and back section, and the main hall features a raised platform (yuetai) that is 8 meters high, 14 meters long, and 10 meters wide. The north lecture hall is 21 meters long and 7 meters wide. The south lecture hall is 11 meters long and 5 meters wide. The water room is 11 meters long and 5 meters wide. There are 7 stone tablets remaining, including the 1929 (the 18th year of the Republic of China) Tablet for the Reconstruction of the Mosque and 4 newer tablets honoring donors. An ancient stone tablet stands in front of the main hall, but the inscription is badly damaged and hard to read.

The mosque's religious affairs have been led by imams including Yang Maoxiu, Wu Mingcai, Li Jigui, and Wang Hualei. It is currently managed by the Mosque Democratic Management Committee, with Li Zhaoji, Mi Qingguo, and Yang Dengfa serving as directors.

In 2009, the mosque was named a provincial-level Harmonious Religious Activity Site. It won the title of Model Mosque of Tai'an City in 2010 and again in 2014.







Beiqiu Mosque



Located in the eastern half of Beiqiu Village in Bianyuan Town, the mosque was first built between the late Ming and early Qing dynasties and has been expanded several times since. The main hall was restored in the 12th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1747). The north lecture hall was rebuilt in 1991. In 2015, the south lecture hall, the water room, and the courtyard were built.

The mosque is built in the style of a Chinese palace, measuring 37.3 meters long and 26.8 meters wide. The prayer hall is a double-layered structure divided into a front hall and a back hall, with side rooms attached to the main hall and a moon terrace (yuetai) in front that is 8.5 meters long and 23.5 meters wide. The north lecture hall is 5 meters long and 17.8 meters wide. The south lecture hall is 5 meters long and 8 meters wide. The water room is 5 meters long and 19 meters wide. The mosque includes a living area for the imam. There are five stone tablets remaining, including the "Stele Record of the Mosque Restoration" from the 12th year of the Qianlong reign (1747), the "Mosque Prohibition Stele" from the Xuantong reign (1909-1911), the "Stele Record of the North Lecture Hall Reconstruction" from 1991, and the "Stele Record of the South Lecture Hall and Water Room Reconstruction" from 2015.

Imam Ding Ruhu currently oversees the religious affairs. In the past, village elders worked with the mosque's imam to manage affairs, with Xu Huali from the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1820-1850) serving as a representative example. The mosque is now managed by a democratic management committee, with Liu Yuyuan, Ding Yongchang, Ding Yongdui, and Ding Xianquan serving as directors in succession. The mosque currently houses a copper water pitcher (tangping) dating back to the late Ming and early Qing dynasties.







Songzhuang Mosque



The Songzhuang Village Mosque in Bianyuan Town is located at the west end of the village. It is said to have been built in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties and has been renovated continuously since then. Before the founding of the People's Republic of China, there were four major renovations, with the most significant ones occurring in the tenth year of the Jiaqing reign (1805), the seventeenth year of the Daoguang reign (1837), the twenty-sixth year of the Guangxu reign (1900), and the fifteenth year of the Republic of China (1926). Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, it has been repaired many times, including the 2013 reconstruction of four ablution rooms (shuifang), two warehouses, and three southern lecture halls.

The mosque is built in the style of a Chinese palace, measuring 36 meters long and 36 meters wide. The prayer hall is 15.6 meters long and 11.3 meters wide, and the northern lecture hall is 18.3 meters long and 5.4 meters wide. The southern lecture hall is 15.7 meters long and 5 meters wide. The water room is 12 meters long and 5 meters wide. There are five stone tablets remaining, including the Stele for the Reconstruction of the Mosque from the nineteenth year of the Daoguang reign (1839), the Stele Record for the Reconstruction of the Mosque from the twenty-sixth year of the Guangxu reign (1900), the Preface Stele for the Reconstruction of the Mosque from the fifteenth year of the Republic of China (1926), and the Preface to the Reconstruction of the Songzhuang Ancient Mosque.

Historically, the mosque trained imams such as Ma Huanwen and Sha Xianzhang. Over the past twenty years or so, imams including Li Zhongguo and Wang Huarong have led the religious affairs. The mosque is currently managed by a democratic management committee, with Zuo Guangwen, Ma Yumin, Bai Youting, Ma Yujun, and Yang Changgang serving as directors in succession.

In 2009, the mosque was awarded the provincial title of Harmonious Religious Activity Venue. In 2010, it received the title of Model Mosque from Tai'an City. In 2016, it was designated as a Cultural Relic Protection Unit of Tai'an City.









Chahedian Mosque



Chahedian Mosque in Bianyuan Town is located in the middle of the village. It was first built during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1735-1796) and has been expanded and repaired ever since. In 2014, the mosque underwent a large-scale renovation.

The mosque features a Chinese palace-style architectural design, measuring 45 meters long and 30 meters wide. The prayer hall is 15 meters long and 15 meters wide, and the north lecture hall is 27 meters long and 7 meters wide. The south lecture hall is 20 meters long and 7 meters wide. The ablution room (shuiwu) is 6 meters long and 7 meters wide.

The mosque's religious affairs were led by imams including Xu Changzhi, Zhang Yanzhai, Wang Huarong, Ma Wenli, Wang Hualei, and Yang Shunchang. It is now managed by the mosque's democratic management committee, with Han Hongbin, Liu Yuantai, and Wang Jihe serving as directors. In 2012, it was named a provincial-level Harmonious Religious Activity Venue.











Fenghuang Village Mosque



Fenghuang Village Mosque in Bianyuan Town sits at the west end of the village. It was built in the 11th year of the Republic of China (1922). When the mosque was first established, it included a main prayer hall, a lecture hall, an ablution room, a main gate, and courtyard walls. It underwent large-scale renovations in 1994.

The mosque features a Chinese palace-style architectural design and is 35 meters long and 30 meters wide. The prayer hall is 12 meters long and 10 meters wide. The north lecture hall is 13 meters long and 6 meters wide. The south lecture hall is 13 meters long and 6 meters wide. There are two existing stone tablets: the Mosque Founding Tablet from 1940 and the Mosque Reconstruction Record Tablet from 1995.

The mosque's religious affairs were led by imams including Wang Yongqing, Ma Xingchang, Ding Hu, Wang Changming, Yang Xingwang, Wang Changgui, and Yang Baojun. It is currently managed by the mosque's democratic management committee, with Wu Maowen, Wu Baoshu, Mi Kuan, Wu Yuanfa, Wu Mingkun, Wu Mingxiang, Wu Jinzhong, and Mi Zhaoying serving as directors.







Dawangzhuang Mosque



Dawangzhuang Mosque in Bianyuan Town is located at the east end of the village. It was built in 1953 and has been repaired many times since. Large-scale renovations took place in 2005, 2007, and 2011.

The mosque is in a modern architectural style, measuring 35 meters long and 40.5 meters wide. The prayer hall is a single-level structure with a rear hall, standing 5.2 meters high, 11 meters long, and 7.5 meters wide. The north lecture hall is 15 meters long and 7.6 meters wide. The south lecture hall is 3 meters long and 7.6 meters wide. The water room is 7.6 meters wide.

The mosque's religious affairs were led by imams including Bai Anfu, Imam Yang, Yang Baojun, Jin Haizeng, Wang Zengli, Ma Chuanxiang, Yang Dong, and Ding Jianhua. It is now managed by the mosque's democratic management committee, with Yang Baojin, Yang Shunping, and Yang Shuncang serving as directors. The mosque houses an incense burner.





Chenjiabu Mosque



Chenjiabu Mosque in Anjiazhuang Town sits at the west end of the village. It was first built between the late Ming and early Qing dynasties and has been expanded and repaired ever since. The mosque underwent two large-scale reconstructions in 1996 and 2007.

The mosque features a Chinese palace-style architectural design and measures 46 meters long and 24 meters wide. The prayer hall is a double-layered structure consisting of a front porch, a front hall, a gutter, and a rear hall, creating a connected architectural layout. Both the front and rear halls follow a four-beam and eight-pillar design, with a brick and lime gutter installed at the junction of the two halls for drainage. There are side doors on both sides and a raised platform (yuetai) in front. The main prayer hall is now a dangerous building. The main prayer hall is 9 meters high, 16 meters long, and 10 meters wide. The north lecture hall is 16 meters long and 6.5 meters wide. The south lecture hall is 13 meters long and 5 meters wide. The water room is 6.5 meters long and 5 meters wide. The mosque was once awarded the provincial title of Harmonious Religious Activity Venue.









Xiaojiabu Mosque



Xiaojiabu Mosque in Anjiazhuang Town is located at the west end of the village. The founding date is unknown, and it was destroyed by fire in 1973 when machines inside the building caught fire. The new mosque was built in 1999.

The mosque features Chinese palace-style architecture and is 56 meters long and 50 meters wide. The prayer hall is 9.9 meters high, and the moon terrace in front of the main hall is 26 meters long and 15 meters wide. The north lecture hall has 5 rooms, measuring 15 meters long and 8 meters wide. The south lecture hall has 5 rooms, measuring 15 meters long and 5 meters wide. There is 1 kitchen, measuring 3 meters long and 4 meters wide. More than 250 trees are planted inside and outside the mosque, and the mosque is fully equipped with all necessary utensils. A stone tablet erected in 2000 still exists today.

The mosque's religious affairs have been led by imams including Bai Maoxiang, Imam Xu, Imam Yang, Imam Wang, and Bai Yanbing. It is currently managed by the mosque's democratic management committee, with Ma Wenhuan serving as the director.

A handwritten copy of the Quran from the 17th year of the Republic of China (1928) is preserved here. In 2008, the mosque was named a Model Mosque by Tai'an City.









Ningyang County

Xitaili Mosque



Xitaili Mosque in Gangcheng Town sits in the western half of the village. Wang Xiong founded the mosque in 1398, the 31st year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, and it has been expanded and repaired ever since. The mosque underwent repairs in 1411, 1460, 1698, 1719, 1738, 1819, 1900, 1945-1946, 2005, 2008, and 2012.

The mosque features Chinese palace-style architecture. It is 41.5 meters long and 34.1 meters wide, with two courtyards. The main prayer hall is a double-layered structure, 13 meters high, 13.1 meters long, and 7.1 meters wide. The north lecture hall is 17.1 meters long and 7 meters wide. The south lecture hall is 10.5 meters long and 7 meters wide. The water room is 10.6 meters long and 5.5 meters wide.

The mosque entrance has a main gate and a second gate. Past the second gate is the main courtyard. The main prayer hall sits on the west side, facing east. It is the primary building of the mosque and can hold hundreds of people for namaz at the same time. The main prayer hall uses a three-arch design with a connected roof structure, consisting of a front porch, a middle hall, and a back hall. The front porch is three bays wide with a curved roof and a wooden frame covered in small gray tiles. A stone tablet from 1719 titled Mosque Inscription is embedded in the inner north wall of the porch. The middle hall is three bays wide with a hard mountain-style roof. The front eaves connect to the back eaves of the middle hall, with water drainage channels left on both side walls. The rear hall is three bays wide, extending 0.62 meters beyond the sides of the middle hall's front porch. The front and rear eaves connect, the main roof ridge features animal ornaments, the brick walls have delicate carvings, and the mihrab is set in the center of the west wall.

The floor plan of the main hall looks like the Chinese character 'zhu' (master), and the roof has a varied, undulating shape. The platform in front of the main hall has stone railings and panels. On the north side of the platform stand stone tablets from the 11th year of the Guangxu reign (1885) and 2005 documenting repairs to the mosque. In front of the platform, the north and south lecture halls each have three rooms. They feature a single-eave, hard-mountain style roof covered with grey tiles and a front porch. North of the second gate is the room for students (hailifan). To the south is the bathing room, which can accommodate dozens of people for major and minor ablutions. Between the east gable of the north lecture hall and the courtyard wall is the east side room. To the west of the west gable are the west side room, the covered room (zhaozifang), and the tableware room. There are six existing stone tablets: the 'Mosque Tablet Record' from the 58th year of the Kangxi reign (1719), the 'Mosque Land Donation Tablet' from the 11th year of the Guangxu reign (1885), the 'Eternal Tablet' from 2005, the 'Second Batch of Municipal Key Cultural Relics Unit Tablet' from 2007, the 'Eternal Tablet' from 2008, and the 'Xitaili Mosque Reconstruction Record Tablet' from 2012.

Throughout its history, the mosque has trained many imams, including Yang Peicheng, Wang Minqing, Wang Minyi, Xu Menglan, Xu Shanfang, Li Chuanzheng, Li Hongbin, Wang Anyi, Li Anchen, Li Qingjun, Ma Xiangfa, Yang Zhenfa, Yang Cunguo, Yang Wei, Wang Antang, Wang Zifa, Xu Shouguo, Huang Zhongqing, Li Qingyun, Ma Xingcheng, Tang Wenhai, Wang Zhongzhen, Zhang Hongyi, Xu Shanfang, Li Zhaokun, Han Yuhai, and Xia Qianguo. The mosque is currently managed by a democratic management committee. Past directors include Wang Zishang, Wang Enshang, Wang Anxiang, Wang Anwen, Li Anshan, Li Baojin, Wang Anpo, and Ma Yongfu.

In 2009, the mosque received the provincial title of 'Harmonious Religious Activity Venue.' It was also named a 'Model Mosque' by Tai'an City in 2008, 2010, and 2014.





Liujiazhuang Mosque



Liujiazhuang Mosque in Geshi Town is located in the southwest corner of the village. It was first built during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1398) and has been expanded and repaired many times since. The mosque underwent three large-scale renovations in 1984, 1997, and 2008.

The mosque follows the Chinese palace architectural style, measuring 26 meters long and 19 meters wide. The prayer hall is 7.9 meters high, 10 meters long, and 8.5 meters wide. The north lecture hall is 13.5 meters long and 7 meters wide. The water room is 5 meters long and 7 meters wide. There is one stone tablet currently on site, which is the 2008 Tablet Record of Mosque Renovation.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the religious affairs have been led by imams including Xu Menglan, Shi Xianbao, Wang Minqing, Xu Shanfang, Bai Anmeng, Han Tongwen, Xu Lingzhi, Wang Antang, Li Anchen, and Ma Ning. The mosque is currently managed by a democratic management committee, and past directors include Li Huaiqing, Li Lanting, and Sha Xingdong.

It has received the title of Model Mosque from Tai'an City.









Baima Mosque Mosque



Baimamiao Mosque in Fushan Town sits at the southwest corner of South Baimamiao Street in Taipingzhuang Village. It was first built during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty (1403-1424) and has been expanded and repaired ever since. The mosque has undergone four major renovations, including those during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty (1522-1566), in the 16th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1890), and in 2001 and 2010.

The mosque features Chinese palace-style architecture, measuring 72.7 meters long, 21.1 meters wide at the front, and 27.5 meters wide at the back. The prayer hall is a double-eaved structure measuring 15.9 meters long and 13.2 meters wide. The north lecture hall is 10.2 meters long and 7 meters wide. The south lecture hall is 10.2 meters long and 6.4 meters wide. The ablution room (shuiwu) is 13.8 meters long and 6.6 meters wide. There are three stone tablets currently on site: the 1890 'Record of the Mosque Renovation' from the Qing Dynasty, the 2001 'Everlasting Renewal Tablet,' and the 2010 'Preface Tablet.'

The mosque's religious affairs have been led by imams including Zhao Wenjie, Yang Yueqing, Zhu Yuepo, Ma Guang, Han Yunting, Zhu Guanglai, Zhao Xinzheng, Zhao Guangfu, Zhu Yuehou, Yang Zhanji, Wang Ai, Zhang Yanzhai, and Yang Dawei. It is currently managed by the mosque's democratic management committee, with past directors including Mi Kuancheng, Hong Qingfang, and Zhao Anren.

A plaque from the 19th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1893) is still preserved today. In recent years, Zhu Zhaoxin donated a pair of wooden couplets that read, "The only true Allah of the universe is Allah, the only greatest sage in the world is Muhammad," which now hang on both sides of the mosque (libaidian) door.

In 2003, the county government designated the mosque as a county-level cultural relic protection site. It received the provincial title of "Harmonious Religious Activity Venue" in 2011 and was named a "Model Mosque" by Tai'an City in 2014.





Hongqi Village Mosque



Hongqi Village Mosque in Huafeng Town sits in the center of the village. It was first built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty (1573-1620) and has been expanded and repaired ever since. The mosque underwent two large-scale renovations in 1932 and 2011.

The mosque features Chinese palace-style architecture and measures 30 meters long and 25 meters wide. The prayer hall is a double-layered structure that is 6 meters high, 13 meters long, and 10 meters wide. The north lecture hall is 15 meters long and 7 meters wide. The south lecture hall is 14 meters long and 4.5 meters wide. The water room is 6 meters long and 4 meters wide. There are two stone tablets here: the 2012 Tablet of Rebuilding the Main Hall and the Tablet of Eternal Memory.

Since the late 1940s, the mosque's religious affairs have been led by imams including Chen Junfang, Shi Xianxing, Liu Qingyuan, Gao Guo, and Ma Yingshang. The mosque is currently managed by a democratic management committee. Past directors include Chen Jinmei, Zhu Xiangxun, Bai Yushun, Zhu Xuyin, Wang Ansheng, Shi Junyou, Zhu Xutian, and Chen Weimin.

In 2008, the mosque was named a Model Mosque by Tai'an City, and in 2012, it received the provincial title of Harmonious Religious Activity Venue.





Jingquan Village Mosque



Jingquan Village Mosque in Huafeng Town is located in the northwest part of the village. It was first built in the 14th year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1834). It was originally located in the eastern part of Jingquan Village and has been expanded and repaired many times since. Large-scale renovations took place in the 24th year of the Daoguang reign (1844), 1988, and 2001.

The mosque is 47 meters long and 35 meters wide. It includes a main hall, a north lecture hall, a south lecture hall, and a water room. There are three stone tablets: the Tablet of Founding the Mosque from the 14th year of the Daoguang reign (1834), the Tablet of Rebuilding the Mosque from 1998, and the Tablet Record of Repairing the Mosque from 2003.

Since the 1950s, the mosque's religious affairs have been led by imams including Jin Haixue, Ma Maoquan, Xu Changchun, Zhang Changshi, and Ma Shengchao. The mosque is now managed by a democratic management committee, with past directors including Huang Yuxiang, Huang Ruichang, Huang Qingfa, and Yang Yanhua.

The mosque houses a set of handwritten Quran manuscripts (volumes 15, 16, 29, and 30 are missing) and one copper water pitcher (tangping), which was originally part of a pair.





Sidian Village Mosque



Sidian Village Mosque in Sidian Town is located in the northern part of the village. It was built in the 11th year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1733) and has been expanded and repaired many times since. In the first year of the Jiaqing reign (1796), a fire at a neighbor's house spread to the mosque, which was later rebuilt. In October 1926, a fire destroyed the main prayer hall. The main hall, lecture hall, and gate wall were rebuilt in 1935. The main prayer hall was torn down in the early 1950s. In the 1980s, the Sidian village brigade arranged for members to build houses on the site, but the south lecture hall remains standing today. The mosque was rebuilt between 2012 and 2015.

The mosque is built in the style of a Chinese palace, measuring 22 meters long and 21 meters wide. A white marble plaque inscribed with the words "Mosque" is embedded above the main gate. There are side doors on both sides, each with a five-step entrance platform. About 10 meters inside the main gate is a second gate, and a path leads straight from there to the main prayer hall. The main prayer hall is a single-story building with a three-bay porch-style design, standing 15 meters high with a bronze vase ornament on the roof. On each side of the main prayer hall, there is a carved openwork lattice window featuring Arabic calligraphy. Inside the hall, four round plaques hang on the front sides, and a plaque with gold lettering hangs in the center. There are four large painted pillars, each over 40 centimeters in diameter, decorated with large gold-painted lotus flowers. The ceiling is inscribed with the holy names of Allah. The floor of the main prayer hall is covered with felt carpets. The front of the main prayer hall is a wooden structure with a simple, ancient style, built in the Chinese hip-roof (wudian) architectural form. The north lecture hall has three rooms and covers an area of about 60 square meters. Inside the hall, there is antique porcelain printed with Arabic scripture. The south lecture hall has three rooms and covers an area of about 50 square meters.

There are two stone tablets remaining: the Imperial Edict Tablet (Shengyu Bei) from the seventh year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1729) and the Tablet Record of the Reconstruction of Sizhuangdian Mosque (Chongxiu Sizhuangdian Qingzhensi Beiji) from the twenty-eighth year of the Republic of China (1939). The former is the only one of its kind in Tai'an and holds significant historical and cultural value. There are several cypress trees inside the mosque.

The mosque was once led by imams including Mi Baogui, Zhao Defu, and Zhao Furun. It is now managed by the mosque's democratic management committee, with past directors including Shi Guanli, Li Xiangqian, and Li Hong'an. The mosque also serves the communities of Qianwang Village and Houwang Village in Caohe Town, Yanzhou City.



Nanyi Village Mosque



Nanyi Village Mosque in Ciyao Town is located in the southwest part of the village. The original mosque in Nanyi Village fell into disrepair and was severely damaged. In May 2015, the dangerous structures were demolished according to plan, and a new mosque was built at a different site.

The mosque covers an area of 1,600 square meters, measuring 40 meters long and 40 meters wide. The prayer hall is 15 meters long and 11 meters wide. The north lecture hall is 10 meters long and 8 meters wide. The south lecture hall is 10 meters long and 8 meters wide. The water house is 10 meters long and 11 meters wide. There is one stone tablet here, the 2016 Tablet of Loving the Country, Loving the Faith, and Recognizing the Oneness of Allah.

The mosque has trained imams like Zhu Zhili, and Imam Yang Zhi currently manages religious affairs. The mosque is managed by a mosque management committee, with Zhang Weimin and Zhu Zhiming serving as past directors.



Houlyuguan Mosque



Houlyuguan Mosque in Huafeng Town sits in the middle of the village. It was likely built in the early days of Lyuguan Village and has been expanded and repaired ever since. In the second year of the Daoguang reign (1822), the old mosque was falling apart, so it moved to the north end of the village, which is its current location. The new mosque added three lecture rooms and a moon terrace (yuetai). In the 27th year of the Guangxu reign (1901), three large tiled rooms were added, and pine and bamboo were planted. The mosque was repaired in the ninth year of the Republic of China (1920). It was severely damaged during the Cultural Revolution.

When the mosque was first built, it was made of grass huts and covered seven and a half mu of land, with eight farming families from the north and south villages providing money and grain. After moving to the north of the village, it was rebuilt with brick, wood, earth, and stone, measuring 62 meters long and 52 meters wide. An old plaque hangs in the prayer hall, but the three characters on it are no longer readable. The main hall is 11 meters long and 11 meters wide. The north lecture hall is 11 meters long and 5 meters wide. The south lecture hall is 11 meters long and 5 meters wide. The water room is 4 meters long and 3.5 meters wide. There are three existing stone tablets: the Record of Rebuilding the Mosque from the second year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1822), the Record of Rebuilding the Mosque from the 27th year of the Guangxu reign (1901), and the Record of Rebuilding the Mosque from the ninth year of the Republic of China (1920). Several stone tablets buried during the Cultural Revolution are inside the water pool.

The mosque's religious affairs were successively led by imams including Ma, Liu Yulin, and Xu Yongtong. Xiluoshan Mosque.

Xiluoshan Mosque in Heshan Township. Built in 2013, it covers 500 square meters with a building area of 300 square meters. It includes a main prayer hall, north and south lecture halls, and a main gate.

Xiluoshan Mosque.



Xiluoshan Mosque in Heshan Township. Built in 2013, it covers 500 square meters with a building area of 300 square meters. It includes a main prayer hall, north and south lecture halls, and a main gate.



Dongping County

Zhoucheng Mosque



Zhoucheng Mosque is located in the middle of the ten-mile Song Street in Zhoucheng Subdistrict. It was first built in 1575 during the third year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty and has been expanded several times since. Large-scale renovations took place in 1819 (the 24th year of the Jiaqing reign), 1828 (the 8th year of the Daoguang reign), 1840 (the 20th year of the Daoguang reign), 1911 (the 3rd year of the Xuantong reign), and 1926 (the 15th year of the Republic of China). After the founding of the People's Republic of China, it was repaired many times, with major renovations in 1990 and 2004.

The mosque features a classic Chinese palace-style architectural design, measuring 91 meters long and 51 meters wide. The prayer hall is a ridge-roof building that stands 12 meters high, 31 meters long, and 29 meters wide. The north lecture hall is 17.5 meters long and 6 meters wide. The south lecture hall is 17.5 meters long and 6 meters wide. The water house is 10.5 meters long and 6 meters wide. There are five stone tablets remaining: the Donation of Land Tablet and the Record of Rebuilding the Mosque Tablet from the 12th year of the Daoguang reign (1832), the Record of Rebuilding the Mosque Tablet from the 20th year of the Daoguang reign (1840), the Preface to the Tablet for Rebuilding the Mosque from the 3rd year of the Xuantong reign (1911), and the Tablet for Rebuilding the Mosque from the 15th year of the Republic of China (1926).

Since modern times, the mosque's religious affairs have been led by imams including Zhan Huiyuan, Zhan Shikai, Zhan Hongru, Zhan Faxin, Xu Changzheng, Xu Changzhi, Yang Maoxiu, Yang Baojun, Zhan Hongda, Imam Guo, Ding Shanzhen, Ma Xiangfa, Li Anchen, Zhan Qiang, and Jin Feng. It is now managed by the mosque's democratic management committee, with Bian Qingfang, Wang Jinghan, Guo Guangcai, Zhan Yanling, and Zhao Rongsheng serving as directors in succession.

In 2004, the mosque was designated as a Tai'an City Cultural Relics Protection Unit. It won the title of Tai'an City Model Mosque four times in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2014. In 2010, it was named a provincial-level Harmonious Religious Activity Venue.











Xicun Mosque



Laohu Town Xicun Mosque is located in the southern part of the village. The mosque was originally built in Zhanjialou during the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1820-1850) and was expanded several times later. It was destroyed by a flood in 1955 and later rebuilt in Xicun Village, where it was completed with a main prayer hall of three rooms and a lecture hall of four rooms.

The mosque is built in the style of a Chinese palace and covers a total area of 1,404 square meters. The main prayer hall is a single-story building that stands 12 meters high and covers 130 square meters. The north lecture hall covers 168 square meters, and the south lecture hall covers 43.2 square meters. The ablution room (shuiwu) covers 77 square meters. The mosque currently houses two stone tablets.

The mosque's religious affairs have been led by imams including Mi, Yang, Ma Yunxiang, Xu Changzhi, Wu Mingcai, Wang Enqing, Bai Zhenhe, Lu Qingjie, Yang Yinqing, and Zhang Changshi. It is now managed by a mosque democratic management committee, with members including Zhan Ensu, Zhan Enkui, Zhan Qinghai, Zhan Qingyu, Bai Shulin, Jin Licai, Jin Baoli, Zhan Yanwu, Bai Chengzhen, and He Mingjun serving as directors.









Lisuo Village Mosque.



Lisuo Village Mosque in Timen Town was built in 1896 during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty and has been repaired several times since. It was damaged in 1958 and later rebuilt. In 2012, due to new village planning, it was moved and rebuilt 60 meters southeast of the old mosque, and it is now located at the 15th Team in the south of Lisuo Village. Repairs were carried out in 2015 and 2016.

This mosque has a modern architectural style and covers a total area of 1,751.1 square meters. The main prayer hall is a single-story building that stands 8 meters high and covers 151.2 square meters. The north lecture hall covers 87.1 square meters, and the ablution room (shuiwu) covers 90 square meters. A storage room (jiazi fang) is built to the south of the main prayer hall. Two stone tablets remain. One ancient tablet was carved with verses from the Quran, the date the mosque was built, and the names of the founders, but it was damaged in 1958 and is now a broken fragment.

The mosque was led by imams including Imam Ding, Imam Yang, and Zhao Jie, and it is currently managed by the mosque's democratic management committee.



Daimiao Mosque



Daimiao Mosque is located in the center of Daimiao Village, Daimiao Town. The date it was first built is unknown. It was damaged by the Yellow River in the 16th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1890). It was rebuilt in the spring of the 20th year of the Republic of China (1931). It was later destroyed by flooding and was rebuilt at a new site in 2017. It covers 400 square meters and includes a prayer hall, a south lecture hall, an ablution room (shuifang), a main gate, and a storage room (jiazi fang). There is one stone tablet remaining from the 20th year of the Republic of China (1931) titled 'Record of the Reconstruction of the Daijia Mosque Town Mosque'.

The mosque was led by imams such as Zhan Enpu and Jin Feng. It is currently managed by the mosque's democratic management committee, with Guo Guangcai serving as the current director.





Discussion | A Preliminary Study of the Hui Muslims' Resistance Against Japan in Tai'an, Shandong

At the end of 1937, the Japanese army invaded the Tai'an region of Shandong, causing major losses to the local economy and society. After thorough mobilization, people from all walks of life among the Hui Muslims in Tai'an—including farmers, workers, teachers, students, business owners, doctors, and imams—all joined the vigorous, full-scale war of resistance. Under the leadership of the Party, the Hui Muslim forces in Tai'an grew from nothing to something and from weak to strong, participating in over 300 battles, with figures like Jin Xiaocun and Jin Guang becoming key leaders of the force. The Tai'an Hui Muslim Anti-Japanese School, the Anti-Japanese National Salvation Association, the Anti-Japanese Propaganda Team, and anti-Japanese logistics industries continued to develop, becoming important elements of the systematic Hui Muslim resistance in Tai'an.

During the war, 322,000 soldiers and civilians in Tai'an city (based on current statistics for the six counties and districts of Tai'an) were killed or wounded, accounting for 1/20 of the total casualties in Shandong (6,526,000 people), which shows the atrocities committed by the Japanese army in Shandong and Tai'an. After the Japanese army occupied Tai'an at the end of 1937, they set up 37 enemy-puppet strongholds and carried out horrific, insane massacres. Between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM on February 24, 1938, the Japanese army committed the Shanyang Village (in front of Culai Mountain) massacre, killing 72 villagers and wounding 13. They burned down 3,080 rooms. 151 large livestock and over 3,500 sheep were burned to death. Over 500,000 jin of grain and more than 400 carts of various sizes were burned. Hui Muslims in Shandong suffered severely from the Japanese invaders. The Japanese army raped countless women, burned down 71 mosques, killed over 130 imams (aheng), and looted all gold, silver, and property. Hui Muslims in Tai'an were not spared either. The Japanese invaders committed monstrous crimes against Hui Muslim villagers in places like Dashuozhuang in Zhuyang Town, Nigou Village in Manzhuang Town, and Yuezhuang Village in Shengzhuang Town. Facing the inhumane massacre policy of the Japanese invaders, Hui Muslim villagers in Tai'an joined the broad masses of Han people in a bitter and arduous war of resistance. Since the spring of 1938, Hui Muslim villagers in the Tai'an region launched a vigorous and systematic war of resistance against Japan, making important contributions to the victory of the war in Tai'an, Shandong, and North China.

1.

Tai'an Hui Muslim Resistance Forces

The Tai'an Hui Muslim resistance was divided into two forces: the Taixi Hui Muslim Anti-Japanese Armed Force and the Taidong Hui Muslim Anti-Japanese Armed Force. The Taixi Hui Muslim resistance was centered in Chenjiabu and Shengjiazhuang in Anjiazhuang Town, Feicheng City, as well as Nanbailou and Zhoujiapo in Xiazhang Town, Daiyue District, with Jin Xiaocun, Mi Yingjun, and Ma Ancai as the main leaders. The Taidong Hui Muslim resistance was centered in Yuezhuang, Gangshang, and Ershilibu in Shengzhuang Town, Tai'an District, and Dashuozhuang Village in Zhuyang Town, Daiyue District, with Jin Guang, Zhao Manshi, Ma Qianli, and Hong Zhanwu as the main leaders. In January 1941, the two forces merged into the Hui Muslim Backbone Battalion in Nigou Village, Manzhuang Town, Daiyue District, totaling over 100 people. The reorganized Hui Muslim backbone brigade operated mainly in the Taixi region. Specifically, the Taixi region covers the vast area west of the Jinpu Railway in Tai'an, south of the Yellow River, up to the north bank of the Dawen River, and east of the Ding River. It mainly includes the counties of Tai'an, Feicheng, Changqing, Dongping, Pingyin, Dong'e, Wenshang, and Ningyang. The anti-Japanese war led by the Hui Muslims of Tai'an was not a series of isolated or scattered battles, but a systematic resistance. The leadership of the Party, the Hui Muslim forces, the Hui Muslim National Salvation Association, the Hui Muslim resistance leaders, the anti-Japanese propaganda teams, the anti-Japanese schools, and the Longshan Military Shoe Factory were all specific elements of the systematic resistance of the Tai'an Hui Muslims. Specifically, the Party's leadership provided a strong political guarantee for the Tai'an Hui Muslim resistance. The Hui Muslim forces were a solid fighting force, and the National Salvation Association was a comprehensive revolutionary group. Jin Xiaocun, Mi Yingjun, and Jin Guang were outstanding leaders of the Tai'an Hui Muslim resistance. The Hui Muslim anti-Japanese propaganda team was an independent system for mobilization, the Hui Muslim anti-Japanese school was a fully established training institution for the resistance, and the Longshan Military Shoe Factory was an independent anti-Japanese logistics industry for the Tai'an Hui Muslims.

II.

The Tai'an Hui Muslim Resistance and the Party's Leadership

Branches of the Communist Party of China were established very early among Hui Muslim teachers and young students in Tai'an. The earliest ones were the Party branch in Ershilibu Village in Taidong and the Party branch in Beiqiu Village in Taixi. The former was established in 1932 with the help of Zhao Manshi and was the first rural Party branch in Tai'an County. Jin Yisan served as secretary, Hong Jixiao as propagandist, and Chen Xingcai as armed committee member, building up strength for future revolutionary struggles. In 1938, the Taixi Special Committee of the Communist Party of China was founded at Beiqiu Primary School, becoming the first Party organization in Taixi County at that time. Duan Junyi served as secretary, and Hui Muslim Party members such as Bai Youfang and Ding Maoshan actively participated in the work.

After the July 7th Incident, cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party gradually deepened, and many imprisoned Communist Party members were released. In July 1937, Communist Party members Lu Baoqi, Zhu Yugan, Yan Yuming, and Wu Guanying, who had been hiding outside, returned to Tai'an one after another to carry out anti-Japanese propaganda and mobilization. Around October, more than ten Communist Party members, including Zhang Beihua, Cheng Zhaoxuan, Xia Furen, Hou Decai, Cui Ziming, and Wang Zhongfan, returned one after another to Tai'an and the surrounding areas. Li Wenfu, Xu Lincun, Wang Shaofen, and others were released from a Kuomintang prison in Nanjing and returned to Feicheng one by one to start anti-Japanese activities. Many party members returned to Tai'an, planting the seeds for the anti-Japanese war among Hui Muslims in Tai'an and providing a strong political foundation.

In early 1938, Wu Guanying held a mobilization meeting for progressive youth at Hekou in western Tai'an, which was attended by Jin Xiaocun, Mi Yingjun, Wang Baoheng, and others. The meeting decided to organize an anti-Japanese guerrilla force and proposed the slogan, "Those with strength give strength, those with money give money." After the meeting, Mi Yingjun sold 800 jin of wheat to buy a box cannon (xiaziqiang). Fan Changyou sold his mule to buy a Hanyang rifle, and others did the same. This formed the initial organization for the Hui Muslim resistance in Tai'an. During the brutal struggle, the Communist Party cared deeply for Mi Yingjun and the Hui Muslim troops he led. Mi Yingjun also studied the works of Mao Zedong diligently to constantly improve his ideological awareness and military skills. In 1939, he joined the Communist Party of China. In March of the same year, Chen Guang, acting commander of the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army, and political commissar Luo Ronghuan led the Eastward Advance Detachment to the Tai-Fei mountain area to establish the western Tai'an anti-Japanese base. Fan Pengfei, the leader of the Eastward Advance Detachment's civil movement team, quickly made contact with Jin Xiaocun and others and provided guns to the guerrilla group. Fan Pengfei once recalled:

North of Anjiazhuang, there was a village with many Hui Muslims. Several young men there formed a guerrilla group on their own, and they had a few guns. After I arrived, I often visited them. One of them was named Mi Yingjun. He was a very accurate shot and trusted me a lot. Later, I organized them and they joined the Tai'an Independent Regiment.

3.

The Growth of Hui Muslim Resistance Forces in Tai'an

Under the leadership of the Party and the guidance of the 115th Division, the Hui Muslim anti-Japanese armed forces in Tai'an continued to grow and strengthen. Whether it was the Hui Muslim anti-Japanese armed forces, the Hui Muslim anti-Japanese leadership, or other entities like anti-Japanese schools and industries, all grew gradually under the leadership of the Communist Party of China.

The Hui Muslim Battalion was a vital force in the Tai'an Hui Muslim resistance. In January 1938, Jin Xiaocun, Mi Yingjun, and six or seven others organized a Hui Muslim anti-Japanese guerrilla group. It soon grew to over twenty people and became a guerrilla squad. After that, the number of Hui Muslim youths joining the resistance kept increasing, and by the end of that year, it had expanded to more than 80 people. In the spring of 1939, the unit was reorganized as the Second Company of the Taixi Independent Regiment, also known as the Hui Muslim Company, with Mi Yingjun serving as company commander.

From then on, this Hui Muslim anti-Japanese armed force grew rapidly under the leadership of the Party. Between the spring and summer of 1939, the Hui Muslim Company worked with the 115th Division and the 686th Regiment to wipe out the Taian traitor organization Red Spear Society and executed its leader, Gao Fuchang. Afterward, the company was reorganized as the Fourth Company of the Taixi Independent Battalion. Soon after, the Fourth Company was reorganized again as the Second Company of the Sub-district Backbone Regiment, fighting across the Taixi region and becoming a banner for Hui Muslim resistance against Japan in Taixi. In early 1940, Jin Xiaocun mobilized people in over 40 Hui Muslim villages in Taixi to form anti-Japanese armed forces, eventually establishing three platoons, which were actually three small squads. In 1941, the two Hui Muslim anti-Japanese units from Taidong and Taixi merged to form the Hui Muslim Backbone Battalion, which oversaw two squadrons. In the second half of that year, Jin Xiaocun and others ordered the formation of the Third Hui Muslim Squadron in the suburbs of Jinan. At the end of 1943, Zhang Xiaonong and others formed the Fifth Detachment of Qihe in Qihe. At the same time, Jin Xiaocun formed the Fourth Squad in Xiaojinzhuang, Jinan. In August 1945, the units merged to form the Taixi Hui Muslim Battalion, with Jin Xiaocun serving as political commissar and Ma Ancai as general branch secretary. In November, it was reorganized as the First Battalion of the First Backbone Regiment of the sub-district, overseeing three companies. Since its founding, this unit made the most of the Hui Muslims' bravery, tenacity, and strong sense of community. They actively carried out guerrilla warfare. After hundreds of battles, they became a national revolutionary force in the Hebei-Shandong-Henan border region that could not be crushed or broken. In February 1949, they were reorganized as the 151st Regiment of the 51st Division of the 17th Army. They took part in the Yangtze River crossing campaign and later marched into the great southwest.

The Tai'an Hui Muslim unit was a strong fighting force. They once successfully protected Comrade Jiang Hua as he passed through enemy blockade lines. During the War of Resistance Against Japan and the War of Liberation, this unit fought over 300 battles. They cleared out more than 60 enemy strongholds and wiped out over 6,000 Japanese, puppet, and Kuomintang troops. They captured 5 cannons, over 20 heavy machine guns, over 70 light machine guns, and more than 4,000 rifles. Nearly 20 people received special or first-class merit awards. Of course, they also made huge sacrifices. The unit's founder, Mi Yingjun, died in October 1943. His commanders spoke highly of him, calling him an excellent Communist Party member, a clever and brave commander, and a Hui Muslim anti-Japanese hero raised by the Party. Incomplete records show that during the War of Resistance, the unit lost 6 battalion-level officers, 14 company-level officers, and over 40 platoon or squad-level officers.

Anti-Japanese schools were important places for training reserve talent. The goal of starting the Hui Muslim Anti-Japanese School was to strengthen and expand the Hui Muslim anti-Japanese army, train more political officers for the Hui Muslim troops, and provide new talent for the army. In 1943, Jin Xiaocun and Jin Guang attended a meeting of the Hebei-Shandong-Henan border region government. They proposed the idea of starting the school to leaders like Deng Xiaoping, who were chairing the meeting, and received approval from the leaders and representatives. After approval from Zhang Yuenan and Wu Shengyu of the Taixi Commissioner's Office, the school was officially established in the autumn of 1944 in Dayuanzhuang Village, Qihe County, with over 60 students. The full name of the school was the Tai'an Region Hui Muslim Anti-Japanese School, also known as the Taiyun District Islamic School. It used military-style management, and the 60-plus students were organized into two platoons and eight squads. The main focus was studying the works of leaders like Mao Zedong, and figures such as Zhang Yaonan and Liu Zifang came to the school to give reports. After the founding of the country, more than 60 students joined various construction fronts across the nation, with some becoming key contributors to the building of the new China.

The Longshan Military Shoe Factory and others provided logistical support for the Hui Muslims' resistance efforts. The Hui Muslim resistance in Tai'an included production for self-sufficiency, with two typical logistics enterprises formed by Hui Muslim teams being the Taixi Wenyang Cooperative and the Longshan Military Shoe Factory. The former was established mainly in the late stages of the War of Resistance Against Japan, initially located at the western border of Mazhuang in Daiyue District, and later moved several times. Ma Qianli was the main person in charge, and it played a major role during the War of Liberation. The latter was founded in the autumn of 1944 and was located in Longshan Guanzhuang, southwest of Manzhuang Town in Daiyue District. Jin Guang served as the factory director, and Mi Guangzhen from Dashuozhuang, east of Tai'an city, served as the purchaser. With over 20 Hui Muslim workers, they mainly produced military shoes, with products primarily supplied to local Hui Muslim forces. Thousands of pairs of military shoes, along with some semi-finished products, raw materials, and tools, were escorted by Jin Guang's wife, Gao Fangpu, to the home of Jin Yongzeng in their village for hiding. Later, they were transported to Dashuozhuang, and in 1948, they were handed over to the Bohai Military Region.

On December 31, 1937, the Japanese invaders occupied Tai'an. On January 1, 1938, the first shot of the Shandong resistance, led by the Shandong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, was fired on Culai Mountain within Tai'an. Influenced by the Culai Mountain anti-Japanese armed uprising and under the leadership of the Communist Party, Jin Xiaocun, Mi Yingjun, and others formed the Tai'an Hui Muslim anti-Japanese guerrilla group in early 1938. This force grew from weak to strong and from small to large, with Jin Xiaocun, Jin Guang, Ma Ancai, and others becoming important leaders of the team. Through in-depth mobilization, all walks of life among the Hui Muslims in Tai'an, including workers, farmers, intellectuals, entrepreneurs, and religious figures, participated in the vigorous all-out war of resistance.

(The author, Jin Po, is the director of the History Department at the School of History, Taishan University, and holds a doctorate in modern and contemporary Chinese history. He is a lecturer, and this was originally published in the first issue of 'Chinese Muslims' in 2019.)

Modern and contemporary history major, lecturer, originally published in 'Chinese Muslims', 2019, Issue 1.

I have finished introducing all 70 mosques in Tai'an. A mosque tour naturally needs to include halal food, but my trip to Tai'an was short and busy. With so many mosques to cover, I have limited space left to talk about the food.

Jin Family Roasted Chicken (Jin Jia Shaoji)



The highlight was the Jin Family Roasted Chicken we ate at a local elder's home near the Dashuozhuang Mosque. It was affordable and delicious. The chicken was tender, and the seasoning was just right. It tasted better than some of the trendy roasted chicken shops that have long lines, and it really suited my taste. On the right side of the photo is fresh camel meat, which tastes similar to beef.



Also, Elder Jin is reliable in his faith, so the ingredients are safe to eat. You can find his contact number in the picture below.



Mi Family Halal Gruel Shop (Mi Jia Qingzhen Sanguan)



After finishing my work, I went with Elder Han to have a traditional Tai'an breakfast at the Mi Family Gruel Shop. It is a thick soup made with lamb broth and eggs. This type of gruel (sangtang) is most famous in the Linyi area. Collapse Read »

Reposted from the web

Summary: This Muslim travel guide to Malaysia follows a family trip to Redang Island and Terengganu, covering The Taaras resort, halal hotel food, beaches, mosque visits, the Crystal Mosque, Tok Aman Bali resort, and Muslim-friendly travel notes.

Redang Island and the Crystal Mosque (Masjid Kristal) in Terengganu Are Beautiful, Uncrowded, and Friendly to Chinese Visitors is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: Redang Island is in the state of Terengganu, Malaysia. You can fly from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu Airport in one hour, then take a taxi to Merang Jetty and ride a boat for about 40 minutes to reach the island. The account keeps its focus on Halal Travel, Yiwu Food, Mosque Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.

Redang Island is in the state of Terengganu, Malaysia. You can fly from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu Airport in one hour, then take a taxi to Merang Jetty and ride a boat for about 40 minutes to reach the island. The boat ride to the island takes 40 to 50 minutes by speedboat. It is a bumpy trip, so I strongly suggest taking motion sickness medicine before you leave. From what I saw, most passengers get seasick. You can also choose a flight and hotel package offered by the hotel to fly directly from Kuala Lumpur to Redang Island, which saves you the trouble of the boat ride. The cost for one person to fly to the island is 700 RM, and it is more cost-effective if you book it together with your room.

The most beautiful beach on the island is the private beach at The Taaras Beach & Spa Resort, which is also the best hotel on Redang Island. Including three meals, accommodation, and activities, the average daily cost is 2,000 RMB. The entire hotel is a resort, and we chose to stay here. We handled all our dining and entertainment inside the hotel, which was very comfortable.



The Taaras Beach & Spa Resort offers Chinese-language services and is considered the most popular Redang Island hotel for Chinese speakers. It is the best choice for friends who enjoy island resort vacations and family trips.



You can occasionally see wild monkeys on the island. We saw them while eating breakfast; as soon as a guest left, a monkey jumped onto the table and grabbed the leftover bread.









The hotel has a mosque on-site with separate areas for men and women, and you can hear the call to prayer for all five daily namaz.











We chose to have all three meals at the hotel. The hotel has three restaurants that serve Western food, Malay food, and Chinese food. Everything, including the Chinese food, is halal. The price per person for each meal is about 60 RM. All expenses inside the hotel can be charged to your room and settled when you check out.















The hotel breakfast is quite rich, featuring mostly Southeast Asian specialties, along with Western and Chinese breakfast options.

















Redang Island is an eco-friendly island with well-protected nature. You can often see various small animals inside the hotel, and I even saw a large lizard.



The white sand on the hotel's private beach is very fine, and the seawater is clear and blue. Fahim can play in the sand all day long.













There are many small white crabs on the sand that run very fast and are hard to catch. The corals and seashells on the island are protected, so you can only look at them and cannot take them away.





The hotel provides snorkeling trips that you can sign up for at different times each day. You do not need to bring your own snorkeling gear, as the hotel boat will take us to two nearby islands for snorkeling.





Fahim was still a bit scared of the ocean, so I pulled him into the water for a quick soak.







Fahim really loved the tomato pasta kids' meal at the restaurant.



I liked their pizza the best, while my wife preferred the Malaysian fried rice (nasi goreng).





The hotel has a kids' play area with a trampoline and a ball pit, and adults can play billiards or board games. Our family of three stayed here for three days and two nights. I walked around the village outside the hotel to buy a charger, but there were hardly any shops and I couldn't find one. I suggest you prepare before arriving on the island or go to KTCC Mall in downtown Terengganu to shop.

Terengganu Crystal Mosque (Masjid Kristal)



After leaving Redang Island and returning to downtown Terengganu, you can visit the Crystal Mosque. It is Malaysia's first smart mosque and is built from glass and steel. Not far from the Crystal Mosque is an Islamic architectural art museum. It has many miniature models of famous mosques from around the world. They looked quite realistic when I passed by, but the museum is outdoors and it was too hot on Friday (Jumu'ah) for me to go inside.





The mosque is built on the water, and they say it looks even more beautiful when the lights come on at night.









It was undergoing renovations when we arrived, but it looked like it was almost finished.



We took a taxi to the largest shopping center in Terengganu, KTCC Mall, and saw that the driver had a flag supporting Palestine in his car.

Secret Recipe



I had coffee and cake at Secret Recipe (Shi Zhi Mi), a famous Malaysian dessert chain, inside KTCC Mall.



My wife said she loved their desserts when she studied in Malaysia ten years ago. The shop's style has changed quite a bit over the years; they added simple meals and the dessert portions are smaller, but the taste remains the same.







JOHNNY'S Thai Restaurant



This place is incredibly busy. We arrived at 3:00 PM and it was still packed with people.



As usual, we started with two glasses of fruit juice, which were cheap and delicious.



Thai tom yum soup (dong yin gong tang) is a famous Thai dish that I really enjoy.







This meal cost 100 yuan, and it was very tasty and worth a visit.



We also stayed one night in Terengganu at the Tok Aman Bali Beach Resort. The hotel is far from the city center and located by the sea. There are very few foreign tourists here, and the hotel guests are almost all Malay.



Since it is on the coast near the mainland, the water is not as clear as on Redang Island, and the sand is not as fine, but it is not commercialized either. This hotel is relatively close to Perhentian Island, and you can take a boat to Perhentian Island from here. Perhentian Island is a new tourist resort island developed in recent years.





I caught a big crab by the beach in the morning. The crabs here are bigger than the ones on Redang Island.





A serving of Malay fried rice at the hotel restaurant only costs a little over ten yuan, which is about the same price as the night market.







The hotel restaurant tastes very good and is very cheap, much lower in cost than on Redang Island. This is the night market held at the hotel every evening.







You can see cats everywhere in Malaysia. Whenever we sit down to eat, cats come over to join us.



I like this resort hotel because it has many play areas for children, which helps them burn off energy and have fun all day.





One side of the breakfast restaurant faces a lake, and the connected river flows toward the sea. I saw a few crocodiles on the other side of the lake.



Collapse Read »

Reposted from the web

Summary: This Muslim travel guide to Malacca covers transport, Jonker Street, Nyonya food, pork-free restaurants, local history, a Chinese-style mosque, Jumuah prayer, and conversations about Chinese and Malay life in Malaysia.

Nyonya Cuisine and the Chinese Mosque in Malacca is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: To get from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca, I recommend taking a taxi. You can share a ride with a few people, which takes about two hours and costs around 200 RM. The account keeps its focus on Forbidden City, Islamic Art, Persian Culture while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.

To get from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca, I recommend taking a taxi. You can share a ride with a few people, which takes about two hours and costs around 200 RM. If you take a bus, buy your ticket at the Melaka Sentral Bus Terminal in Kuala Lumpur. Buses leave every half hour on average. You can also buy tickets online in advance and exchange them for paper tickets at the station. Fares are 11-13 RM, depending on the bus company. The one-way trip takes over 3-4 hours, and transferring back and forth can be a hassle.

Malacca is small, and you can see most of the sights in one day. You can return to Kuala Lumpur that same night, or choose to stay in Malacca. The cost of living here is cheaper than in Kuala Lumpur, making it a good choice for those on a budget.



Jonker Street (Jichang Jie) Cultural Square

Malacca is the oldest city in Malaysia. Before the 14th century, it was just a fishing village belonging to the Srivijaya Kingdom of Sumatra. In 1406, the Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty named Parameswara the King of Malacca, starting the history of the nation. By the time of the third king, Muhammad Shah (1424-1444), the entire royal family had converted to Islam. From then on, Malacca became the first sultanate in Southeast Asia and gradually entered its golden age.

Malaysia's national confidence comes from its Islamic period. Compared to the pre-Islamic era, Islam brought advanced cultures from all over the world. As an important historical transport hub and trade center, Malacca gathered Muslim merchants from many countries, including Zheng He from the Ming Dynasty, who passed through Malacca five times during his seven voyages to the South Seas.



Malacca is now a city where Chinese people make up the majority. According to locals, Malays account for only about 20% of the population here. Jonker Street is a very lively Chinese neighborhood in Malacca, with Chinese signs all along the street. You can eat very unique Nyonya food here. Nyonya people are the descendants of mixed marriages between Malays and Chinese. Men are called Baba (baba), which comes from a Persian term of respect for elders, and women are called Nyonya, which comes from a Portuguese term of respect for women.



Nyonya food is generally not halal, but I found two pork-free Nyonya restaurants. One is the 'Xiao Gu Traditional Nyonya Restaurant' shown above—don't read it as 'Little Girl Nyonya'—and the other is 'Xiuzhen Nyonya Kitchen' shown below.

Xiuzhen Nyonya Kitchen



The door says 'pork free.' Local Chinese told me that Malays in Malacca are different from those in Kuala Lumpur. Because there are fewer of them, Malacca's Malays tend to be more conservative and stricter about food. Some won't eat at pork-free restaurants, only at those with halal certification, and they may even want to see Malay chefs and servers before they eat. Malays in Kuala Lumpur are more relaxed.





The menu mentions the history of Nyonya food. Nyonya cuisine inherits the food culture of the Chinese fathers and the local culture of the mothers. It is based on Fujian Min cuisine and adds the unique culinary features of the Peranakan (Straits-born Chinese) people, who have passed down these traditions for over 600 years. It is truly one of a kind.



The restaurant is decorated in a South Seas style. You do not need to worry about the language here, as you can speak Chinese everywhere.

















Shrimp Nyonya vegetable dish (achar)

The portions at this restaurant are small, so you do not have to worry about leftovers. Nyonya cuisine is mostly salty and spicy, which goes well with rice and suits the local hot and humid climate.



Nyonya golden cups (pie tee)



Beef rendang (rendang)



Nyonya butterfly pea flower rice (nasi kerabu)

The whole meal only cost 69 RM, and a full day of exploring Malacca costs no more than 100 RM.



1. Malacca State Mosque

(Masjid Al Azim)



The Malacca State Mosque was built in 1990. It features a typical traditional Malacca architectural style. This style was influenced by the Ming Dynasty, which immediately reminded me of the mosques on the island of Java in Indonesia, as they share the same style.

















2. Tengkera Mosque

(Masjid Tengkera)



This mosque was built in 1728 with funding from the Dutch East India Company. The highlight is the minaret behind it, which is designed in the style of a Chinese pagoda. It is a mosque that blends Indonesian Javanese, Malay, and Chinese cultures.















I have seen this type of water tank used for wudu on the island of Java in Indonesia.



















Next to the mosque is the tomb of Sultan Hussein Shah of Johor (1776-1835). He signed two treaties with the British and was nominally recognized by them as the Sultan of Johor and Singapore in 1819. He successfully weakened Dutch influence, so he is credited in the history of Singapore's founding, though he held no real power and was more of a puppet monarch. Some described him as a tiger without teeth. Several of his descendants are buried in the Jalan Kubor cemetery in Singapore.





Less than 200 meters across the street from the mosque, you can see a pagoda-style building. This tower is the site of another mosque from 1728.



Across from the pagoda, you can see another cemetery.











3.

Kampung Hulu Mosque (Masjid Kampung)



Walking another two kilometers, you reach Kampung Hulu Mosque. This mosque was built in 1720 or 1728, commissioned by the Dutch East India Company and built by Chinese Muslims. The architectural style combines Javanese and Chinese elements.





The minaret looks like a lighthouse.



The prayer drum (bangke gu) is also influenced by Chinese culture. Traditional mosques on the island of Java in Indonesia also use drums to call people to prayer.





The water pool for wudu has flowing water, and the used water drains away through a channel on the side.















This style of minaret (minbai lou) is influenced by Javanese culture.

4. Kampung Kling Mosque

(Masjid Kampung Kling)



Built in 1748 by Indian Muslims, this mosque looks similar to the Kampung Hulu Mosque, just with a different color.



























5. Malacca Straits Mosque

(Masjid Selat Melaka)



This mosque built on the sea is a landmark of Malacca. It was finished in 2006. When the tide rises, the mosque looks like it is floating on the water from a distance, and its colors are beautiful.





Tourists can visit for free during certain times, while those coming for namaz can enter at any time.







The minaret is 30 meters tall and also serves as a lighthouse.









If you want to go to the beach to take a full side view of the mosque, you need to cross a piece of private land. There is a small shop run by a Chinese person at the entrance. You have to buy something to go in and take photos, and there is no minimum amount. I did not have any cash on me at the time, so I did not go.

6. Malacca Chinese Mosque

(Malacca Chinese Mosque)



Completed in 2014, this is the third Chinese-style mosque built in Malaysia, following those in Kelantan and Perak. It was built under the leadership of the Malacca Chinese Muslim Association and cost 7.5 million RM. The federal government provided 5.9 million RM, and the rest came from public donations.



The mosque's design draws from traditional mosque styles in Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi'an. It features unique Chinese cultural elements like pagodas and calligraphy. Covering 2.8 hectares, it is the largest Chinese-style mosque I have ever visited.



The signs are written in Chinese, Arabic, and Malay.

I found this mosque by accident. I originally planned to attend Friday namaz at the Malacca Straits Mosque. While checking Google Maps, I saw this Chinese-style mosque far from the city center and decided it would be more meaningful to go there for namaz instead.



I used Grab to call a Chinese taxi driver. As soon as I got in, he curiously asked how I knew about this place. He said he had never taken a tourist there and had never heard of it himself. The mosque is in the suburbs, surrounded by empty land.



On the way, we talked about the lives of Chinese people in Malaysia. The driver said he felt it was not easy for Chinese people in Malaysia and Indonesia because of pressure from the Malay government. I told him to compare them with Chinese people in other Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam, who have almost no influence. If life were better there, why would so many Chinese stay in Malaysia and Indonesia? They would have left long ago, right?

The driver suddenly realized my point and agreed. He felt that compared to other Southeast Asian countries, Chinese people in Malaysia and Indonesia still have significant influence. After all, the Chinese are an immigrant group, so it is unrealistic to expect them to be treated exactly the same as the Malay people.



The trip was not smooth because of road construction around the mosque. The driver had to take a long detour to find the entrance. I thought I would miss the Friday prayer, but Allah's grace was with me. I arrived just in time for the congregational prayer. I was shocked to see over a thousand people there, and the imam leading the prayer was Chinese.



Most of the friends (dosti) here look like Malay or Indian-Pakistani people, though some Chinese people get so tanned they are mistaken for Malay, just like me.







Because the location is remote, I was worried about getting a taxi back to the city, so I asked the driver to wait for me until I finished namaz. He was very kind. On the way back, he told me stories about Malay and Chinese people in Singapore. He said Malay people in Singapore feel superior to those in Malaysia, and the Chinese feel the same, but the people in Malaysia do not envy Singapore. They view Singapore's independence with a very calm attitude.

This driver was one of the most well-informed Chinese people I have met. He knows a bit about mainland China, has been to Hong Kong, and often watches short videos about the mainland on Douyin. He said Kuala Lumpur is like a small city in China, and Beijing and Shanghai are much more advanced than Kuala Lumpur. He even thinks Hong Kong has fallen behind China's first-tier cities. Collapse Read »

Reposted from the web

Summary: This Kuala Lumpur halal food guide continues with Taco Bell, Din Tai Fung pork-free and halal notes, soup dumplings, Makan Malay, Indian, and Chinese buffet counters, and practical dining impressions from Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur Halal Food Map is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: We ordered a big table of food for three people, costing 171.2 RM, which is over 200 RMB. In terms of value for money, Canton Boy is the better choice. The account keeps its focus on Halal Travel, Yiwu Food, Beijing while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.





We ordered a big table of food for three people, costing 171.2 RM, which is over 200 RMB. In terms of value for money, Canton Boy is the better choice.

14. Taco Bell



This is a Mexican fast-food chain. A taco is a common North American snack made of a corn tortilla filled with various ingredients. I ate here because you rarely see a purely halal taco shop back home in China. In Beijing, you can only find tacos at a few Arab restaurants.



15. Din Tai Fung



Din Tai Fung started in Taiwan and specializes in Taiwanese snacks. It is actually more famous overseas than in Taiwan. There are Din Tai Fung locations in Beijing, but I have only seen halal versions in Dubai, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Not every Din Tai Fung in Malaysia is halal. You have to look for shops that say 'no pork.' These shops might still sell alcohol. Many Malaysians do not mind if a restaurant sells alcohol, but such restaurants will not receive halal certification. In Malaysia, halal certification is only given to restaurants that do not serve alcohol.





Din Tai Fung is very busy, and you often have to wait in line for a table, but it is worth it. Their crab roe soup dumplings (tangbao) are truly the best I have ever eaten.











We wanted more of the soup dumplings, so we ordered another steamer basket.





Our lunch for two cost 129.5 RM, which is less than 200 RMB.

16. MAKAN Malay, Indian, and Chinese Buffet Restaurant



If you want to eat authentic Malay food in Malaysia, I recommend this buffet restaurant located on the 11th floor of the Hilton Hotel in Intermark Mall.



This restaurant is ranked number one on the TripAdvisor app, and the buffet price is 85 RM per person. There are three options, as shown on the sign in the picture. This restaurant has three kitchens: one for Malay style, one for Indian style, and one for Chinese food. All three, including the Chinese one, are halal.



You can freely choose a buffet from any of these styles, but we tried all three.



















At 85 Malaysian Ringgit per person, this buffet is considered quite expensive in Kuala Lumpur. Even so, the restaurant is packed, and many office workers from nearby come here for lunch. After eating, I felt that the tastes of us Chinese people are different from those of the Malay people. The popular restaurants that are hits in Malaysia all tasted average to me. I can only say that Malay people are not very particular about food, but overall, the standard of halal dining in Kuala Lumpur is still world-leading. Collapse Read »

Reposted from the web

Summary: This Beijing halal food guide shares issue 38 of the map, covering Pakistani buffet, halal barbecue buffet, tea space, iron pot stew, Arabic food, Silk Road cuisine, Qingyanglou, Niujie skewers, and newly opened Muslim restaurants.

Beijing Halal Food Map (Issue 38) is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: The restaurants in this issue are all newly opened. When I wrote the 10th issue, I worried about running out of unique halal restaurants in Beijing to feature. The account keeps its focus on Beijing Halal Food, Muslim Travel, Middle Eastern Food while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.

The restaurants in this issue are all newly opened. When I wrote the 10th issue, I worried about running out of unique halal restaurants in Beijing to feature. It turns out I was overthinking it. New halal restaurants have kept popping up in Beijing over the last two years. Even though many have closed, the variety is getting richer overall. After traveling to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt last year, I am even more convinced that no other country or city has a wider variety of halal restaurants than Beijing. Beijing truly deserves to be called the world capital of halal food.

The list of halal restaurants featured in this issue is as follows:

1. Habibi Pakistan Buffet

2. Halal Small Stove Barbecue Buffet (Xiao Luzi)

3. Achuiji Stinky Fried Skewers

4. Sanbanhui Tea and Coffee Space

5. Dunyishou Northeast Iron Pot Stew

6. Habibi Arabic Restaurant

7. Yerushahan Silk Road Cuisine

8. Qingyanglou Fried Cake Xin

9. Jiangweiyuan Aisha Cuisine

10. Maimaiti Western Regions Cuisine

1. Habibi Pakistan Buffet



There is a new Pakistani buffet on Minda West Road. When you see McDonald's, walk inside to the very back and take the elevator to the third floor. The environment is nice and clean. They do not have many types of dishes, and the taste is average, but the highlight is the affordable price of 66 yuan per person.





The owner is a Pakistani friend who speaks Chinese and is very welcoming. Pakistani restaurants in Beijing usually do well, and this one had quite a few diners.

















For Indian and Pakistani food, I still prefer the taste at Hanbaba and Samosa.

2. Halal Small Stove Barbecue (Qingzhen Xiaoluzi Shaokao)



This is a new barbecue buffet on the 8th floor of Souxiu City in Chongwenmen. You can take the elevator from the Souxiu Cinema on the first floor directly there. The restaurant has an industrial decor style that looks like it was never finished. The buffet is 139 yuan per person, but you can grab a 99 yuan package deal on their livestream.



Drinks and ice cream are unlimited, or you can choose a 59 yuan buffet that does not include drinks.



The restaurant is still in its trial period and is clearly short-staffed, so it might be hard to get food during peak hours. We chose to go on a weekday at noon when it was less crowded, so we could eat as much as we wanted.



The skewers are Northeast Chinese style, and you can even see grilled silkworm pupae.









The set meal includes beef brisket stew.



The ice cream is Yili brand.

3. Achuiji Stinky Fried Skewers



Achuiji is a fried skewer shop run by a Beijing couple, and they even have skewers that taste like stinky mandarin fish (chouguiyu).



Their signature beef pie (xianbing) is delicious and cheap at only 22 yuan. I asked and found out they own the building, so they do not have to pay rent.



They have many flavors of fried skewers. Besides the stinky lamb skewers, they have lemon chicken skewers, and I prefer the fresh scent of the lemon ones.



The spicy chicken cutlet rice has a Korean style, but it is not actually very spicy and tastes quite good.



The owner recommended we try the roasted pigeon. It is roasted to order, so it takes a little longer, but the taste is great.



The exploding tofu (baojiang doufu) is excellent. You can taste the owner's care in every dish; they really put their heart into the cooking.



I have been here twice. The second time, I tried the lamb spine hot pot (yangxiezi guo) recommended by the owner, and the meat on the spine was very high quality.



4. Sanbanhui Tea and Coffee Space



Sanbanhui near the West Railway Station is a themed tea and coffee shop with a background in the finance industry. Most people who come here to talk business work in finance. Since the person in charge is a Hui Muslim from Qinghai, the food at this shop is halal.



The simple meals are mostly pizza, pasta, and fried rice, and there are meeting rooms on the second floor.



















5. Dunyishou



Dun Yishou is a Northeast-style iron pot stew (tieguo dun) restaurant located in the Huanhu Town of Tongzhou, which is quite far away.













The restaurant is very spacious and the iron pot stew is delicious, but the only downside is that they do not serve stir-fried dishes, unlike Wanfu in Daxing where you can also get sweet and sour pork (guobaorou).





The two-person set meal comes with white fungus soup (yin'er tang), snacks, and fruit, leaving both of us feeling very full.



6. Habibi Arabic Restaurant



This is a newly opened Arabic restaurant in Jiugong, Daxing. It used to be just a small stall, but the new owner recently invested some money into the renovation.













We ordered a 200-yuan set meal for two, and the taste was very similar to the Arabic food we had in Egypt.









7. Yerushahan Silk Road Cuisine



There is a new Silk Road cuisine restaurant across from Xuanwu Hospital on Changchun Street. Its style is very similar to Samarkand, serving mainly Xinjiang and Northwest Chinese dishes, along with roast duck and seafood. The environment is very beautiful, but the prices are a bit high, averaging 150 to 200 yuan per person. If you are on a date near Niujie, you can come here to eat as it is quite quiet.









The pilaf (zhuafan) has a light flavor and is served in a small electric rice cooker; this small pot costs 68 yuan.



The Middle Eastern avocado salad is 88 yuan, and the rack of lamb (jiazi rou) is 128 yuan, which comes with two pieces of grilled pineapple and tastes quite good.



8. Qingyanglou Fried Cake Xin



A new Beijing-style restaurant just opened in Xianyukou near Qianmen. The founder is Zhagaoxin, so you can buy fried cakes (zhagao) there.







For a restaurant in a tourist area, the food is pretty good. It is not amazing, but you will not be disappointed.









The highlight is their Shengmu yogurt. It is quite thick and tasty, and they even have a sea buckthorn flavor.





The crust of the fried cake was a bit bitter, and I did not get to the filling on my first bite, but the bean paste inside tasted fine and was not too sweet.



There are quite a few halal restaurants around Qianmen Street, but many do not taste very good. This Qingyanglou is a solid choice.

9. Jiangweiyuan Aisha Cuisine (formerly Northwest Muslim Restaurant)



Ever since the Northwest Muslim Restaurant on Niujie moved away, the area lost a great spot for eating skewers. Recently, this old shop moved back, though the location is now on Baiguang Road.



This was our go-to place for skewers when we were students. Even though my classmates do not live on Niujie anymore, they still travel a long way to eat here. When they heard the shop was back, one friend even drove from the suburbs at 11 p.m. just to meet me for skewers.



They stay open until 2 a.m.





Besides the skewers, I also like their noodle dishes.



10. Maimaiti Western Regions Cuisine



This fusion restaurant is run by locals from Linxia. The food really surprised me because the chef perfectly recreates the authentic flavors of Linxia. I asked the owner and found out their head chef has won national awards. Their hand-grabbed lamb (shouzhua) is also incredible.





I first stopped by for a bowl of mixed noodles (banmian) and thought it was delicious, and the grilled skewers (kaochuan) were great too. I went back later for the stir-fried dish (laochao) and liked it even more. Next time, I plan to try their hand-grabbed lamb.



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Reposted from the web

Summary: This Shaanxi halal food guide visits Ankang Hui Muslim Street, seven old mosques, West Mosque, North Mosque, Xingwen Mosque, Jingning South Mosque, local shaobing, fried snacks, halal dishes, and the Han River night view.

Ankang Hui Muslim Street Guide: Halal Food and Muslim Heritage in Shaanxi is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: Ten of my travelogues were deleted recently, likely due to title violations. I have revised and reposted them. The account keeps its focus on Ankang Muslim Street, Halal Food, Shaanxi Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.

Ten of my travelogues were deleted recently, likely due to title violations. I have revised and reposted them.

In Shaanxi, Hui Muslims mostly live in the Xi'an Muslim Quarter, but there are also small groups in Hanzhong and Ankang to the south. During my road trip through the southwest, I passed through Ankang and visited four mosques located within two kilometers of each other in the city.

Ankang has seven mosques: Xingwen Mosque, North Mosque, South Mosque, Inner City Mosque, Middle Mosque, West Mosque, and East Mosque. Over ten thousand Hui Muslims live around these mosques in the East and West Gates. The West Gate has been torn down, but the East Gate is the oldest part of Ankang. The East Gate stretches over half a kilometer from south to north and has three streets filled with halal snacks.

Ankang West Mosque



Ankang West Mosque was built in the first year of the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty and has separate prayer halls for men and women.















Ankang North Mosque



Ankang North Mosque was first built in the 15th year of the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty (1502). The North Mosque's



The minaret of the North Mosque is 46.4 meters tall.

















The graveyard for imams inside the North Mosque.





Ankang Xingwen Mosque



Xingwen Mosque was built during the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty. It was named for its focus on education and historically ran schools like the Hui Muslim Charity School and the Northwest Ankang Primary School.







Jingning South Mosque



Rumor has it that Jingning South Mosque in Ankang was built during the Tang Dynasty. A stone tablet inside says the Tang government built Xingwen Mosque after asking the Arabs for military help to stop the An Lushan Rebellion, but there is no proof of this. The oldest reliable records show it was built at least by the Ming Dynasty.







The stone tablet lists the names of the imams who have taught at the mosque throughout Ankang's history.











There are many halal snack shops in the old town of Hanbin District, but most were closed when I arrived.



The small shops around Dongguan are mostly run by local Hui Muslims. They mostly sell fried foods, steamed buns (baozi), and noodles. The hanging-griddle flatbread (diao'ao shaobing) is unique.



We ate stir-fried dishes at Yong'an Kangjia, which is a local restaurant that has been open for many years.



Because Ankang is close to Sichuan, the stir-fried dishes here taste very similar to Sichuan food.



The pickled vegetables and sour radishes on the menu are local specialties.



I ordered the twice-cooked winter melon (huiguo donggua). I thought it was twice-cooked pork, but it turned out to be winter melon cooked in the same style instead of meat.



The steamed beef with alfalfa (muxu zhengrou) is made with beef, a cooking style just like in Sichuan cuisine.



The Han River flows through the city. We took a walk by the river at night to enjoy the night view.



If not for the Hui Muslim uprisings in the late Qing Dynasty, there would be many more Hui Muslims in Shaanxi today, and they would likely be living better lives. My regret in Ankang is that I did not get to eat many local halal snacks. Maybe I came at the wrong time. Hui Muslim snacks in Ankang are completely different from those in the Xi'an Muslim Quarter. They have distinct features and are worth another visit. We only stayed in Ankang for one night and left for Sichuan early the next morning. Collapse Read »